Longtime lurker here, Average temperature is around 66--F, so the weather is moderate. It's a a smaller city city with about 62,233 people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Appreciate any input. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
16 upvotes
13 Replies
Isabelle Edwards
Moved here last year, no regrets.
34 upvotes
Delilah Walker
hard disagree but ok
33 upvotes
Liam
preach
32 upvotes
Harper J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Happy to answer more specific questions..
32 upvotes
Landon Harris
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Joshua
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 46, moved here 4 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Riverside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
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. Property taxes are high
3. The job market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
29 upvotes
Allison Richardson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is tough in most areas.
18 upvotes
Isabelle Ramirez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
Parker Gonzalez
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Korean places. it exceeded my expectations.
7 upvotes
Ava Ross
thanks for sharing
6 upvotes
Adrian Ortiz
hmm interesting perspective
3 upvotes
Carter Phillips
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
2 upvotes
Miles Bailey
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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