Alright, My family moved here when I was a kid. Median household income is $124,407, which feels pretty solid for the area. The weather takes some getting used to. What are your go-to spots? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
17 upvotes
23 Replies
Joshua Clark
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is pet-friendliness. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
isaac_mind
hard disagree but ok
33 upvotes
Aurora White
good to know, thanks
32 upvotes
Brielle
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in government. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
31 upvotes
Judith L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 14 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
Mateo White
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
20 upvotes
Charlotte Nguyen
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much developing but now it's surprisingly good.
20 upvotes
Kayden Roberts
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 6 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Jackson Adams
spot on
16 upvotes
Kai J.
been saying this for years
15 upvotes
Aria H.
I've lived in East for about 7 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 Seattle, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Active local events and festivals
- The healthcare scene is average
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
15 upvotes
Alexa M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Chicago it's excellent.
14 upvotes
Gabriella Robinson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
14 upvotes
Connor Carter
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in The Heights. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in legal. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
13 upvotes
Vivian Cruz
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The food scene is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
Jordan Davis
Moved here last year, no regrets.
13 upvotes
Angel
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 11 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
12 upvotes
Amy W.
yeah no that's not right
10 upvotes
Robert Lopez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 15 years. Moved from Miami for a job opportunity. 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:**
real estate is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is average - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland schools are hit or miss. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited shopping options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
8 upvotes
Paisley James
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is food scene. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
8 upvotes
Christopher K.
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Downtown area are challenging. Kids love it here.
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