Hey, Military spouse here. You can expect to pay around $1,303 for rent here. It's a a smaller city city with about 27,199 people. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. What do you all think? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
11 upvotes
19 Replies
Aria W.
following this thread
40 upvotes
Silas Johnson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 45, moved here 8 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Springfield and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Austin, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
40 upvotes
Daniel Watson
this is the way
32 upvotes
Mateo Adams
Came here for school and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Waylon H.
not my experience at all
28 upvotes
Mason D.
This.
27 upvotes
desert_stella84
accurate
17 upvotes
Eleanor Collins
Can confirm, been here 13 years.
17 upvotes
william_mind
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The public transit is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Connor Williams
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
16 upvotes
Joshua Baker
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth checking out..
13 upvotes
Madelyn
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
11 upvotes
Scott M.
I work in real estate here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
11 upvotes
Angel Jackson
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
10 upvotes
Zoe Miller
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Ronald S.
following this thread
7 upvotes
Rachel N.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Isabella Cruz
Saving this thread
6 upvotes
Jacob R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in The Heights. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in retail. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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