Anyone else feel this way? The unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is pretty low. It's a a mid-size city city with about 220K people. Poverty rate is 5.6%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,781/month for a decent place. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Thoughts? The weather takes some getting used to. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
29 upvotes
15 Replies
Ezekiel C.
spot on
39 upvotes
Emily Torres
couldn't agree more
38 upvotes
Angel Roberts
wish I knew this sooner
35 upvotes
Liam Hall
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 10 years. Moved from Houston for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is decent - 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. Old Town 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. Limited public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Julia Mendoza
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to New York it's underrated.
31 upvotes
Miles Lee
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
24 upvotes
elena_walker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
David M.
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
21 upvotes
Michael Jackson
interesting, hadn't considered that
19 upvotes
Emmett Wilson
facts
15 upvotes
Grayson Lewis
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 9 years. Moved from San Francisco for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is tough - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield schools are average. 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. Winters are long and cold. Limited shopping options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Ella W.
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- The school system scene is tough
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
12 upvotes
cool_maya82
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 48, moved here 3 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Portland, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
7 upvotes
Piper Lee
Came here for school and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The nightlife is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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