Anyone else feel this way? I'm single, late 40s, and It's a a smaller city city with about 68,098 people. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Worth the trade-offs? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
29 upvotes
5 Replies
Alice Adams
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Houston it's surprisingly good.
40 upvotes
Levi Evans
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
34 upvotes
columbus_hazel
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
No regrets on my end..
21 upvotes
Owen R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 14 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into running, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
19 upvotes
Chloe Long
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
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