Hi all, I'm retired and It's a a smaller city city with about 81,591 people. Average temperature is around 55--F, so expect cold winters. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Let me know your thoughts.
27 upvotes
7 Replies
Angel Diaz
Bought a house here in 2016 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
35 upvotes
Gloria G.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 11 years. Moved from Miami for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have lakes 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 underrated. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Adrian Brown
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (South) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
25 upvotes
Zoey M.
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great seafood places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
23 upvotes
Roman F.
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Sebastian C.
I'm a nurse and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
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