Hi all, Military spouse here. Rent is about $1,447/month for a decent place. With a population of 35,772, Inver Grove Heights is a smaller city. It's a a smaller city city with about 35,772 people. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Would love some local perspective. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The weather takes some getting used to. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The suburbs are where most families end up. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The city has invested a lot in new development. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
15 upvotes
22 Replies
cool_xavier46
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 25, moved here 1 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Midtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Seattle, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K 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.
32 upvotes
Theodore Morales
Came here for work and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community vibe is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
Melanie Gonzalez
noted, appreciate it
31 upvotes
Jameson Clark
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Indian places. the quality of life is solid.
31 upvotes
fresno_kennedy
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The housing market is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Jace Reyes
as a local I can confirm
30 upvotes
Isaac Richardson
haha yep pretty much
27 upvotes
Ian Parker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 9 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Emmett Long
I work in legal here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is tough. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
20 upvotes
Jose O.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 52, moved here 4 years ago from LA. I've lived in Lakewood and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The community vibe situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. average 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 LA, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
17 upvotes
Joshua W.
I've lived in East for about 12 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 San Diego, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- The housing market scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
12 upvotes
Easton Foster
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 6 years. Moved from Boston for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is decent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Can feel isolated. Dating scene is rough. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Harper Diaz
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Pine Hills area are tough. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Leo S.
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Vietnamese places. the quality of life is solid.
9 upvotes
stlguy2024
Can confirm, been here 10 years.
9 upvotes
Skylar C.
Moved here from New York about 6 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Jason M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 47, moved here 11 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Springfield and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
6 upvotes
nycmind2020
+1
6 upvotes
Jackson F.
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
4 upvotes
Hailey Williams
been saying this for years
4 upvotes
Maya Robinson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Portland about 6 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is tough.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Definitely worth checking out..
1 upvotes
Abigail F.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Asian.
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