Not sure if this has been asked before, but Been living here since 2006. Household incomes average around $108,386 in Homewood. The city has invested a lot in new development.
6 upvotes
23 Replies
Connor Brooks
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is tough in most areas.
38 upvotes
Ella Hill
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 30, moved here 6 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in North and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The pet-friendliness situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for singles. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Francisco, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
35 upvotes
Clara
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is average in most areas.
33 upvotes
jax_christian
big facts right here
31 upvotes
Jeremiah Gutierrez
seconding this
28 upvotes
Luke
I work in hospitality here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is excellent. No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Gloria H.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Uptown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
27 upvotes
Mason Kim
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
22 upvotes
Nolan
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
21 upvotes
Aiden Young
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
17 upvotes
Elijah Ward
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 38, moved here 7 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in North and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited shopping options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Atlanta, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
16 upvotes
Maya Walker
glad someone said it
15 upvotes
Naomi
I'm a lawyer and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
15 upvotes
Savannah Baker
Moved here last year, no regrets.
15 upvotes
Kinsley M.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Miles
I've lived in Springfield for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Close to major attractions
- The weather scene is tough
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Good luck with whatever you decide..
10 upvotes
Cooper Watson
I'm a social worker and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is average and there's always something going on.
9 upvotes
Abigail Nelson
big facts right here
8 upvotes
Luke M.
glad someone said it
6 upvotes
Quinn Torres
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
4 upvotes
raised_nicholas72
I've lived in South for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
- The housing market scene is tough
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Definitely worth checking out..
3 upvotes
Sebastian Gomez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Denver about 9 years ago. The main reasons were weather and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good airport with direct flights
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is decent.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Happy to answer more specific questions..
2 upvotes
Paisley D.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
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