It's a a mid-size city city with about 114K people. Homes are going for about $437,100 on average. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Am I overthinking this? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
46 upvotes
15 Replies
Genesis Kelly
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
37 upvotes
Rylee Bailey
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much stable but now it's pretty good.
36 upvotes
Naomi
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 nightlife. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
34 upvotes
Zoe
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (East) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. safety 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.
32 upvotes
Axel
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Tampa about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are reasonable, gas is decent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
31 upvotes
Raymond B.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Kai Mendoza
I've lived in Highland for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- The public transit scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
28 upvotes
Nova Moore
couldn't agree more
26 upvotes
Adrian Ward
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 36, moved here 2 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Sunset and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Chicago, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
24 upvotes
Daniel W.
yep
22 upvotes
Thomas Perez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 6 years. Moved from Austin for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Springfield schools are improving. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Winters are long and cold. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
20 upvotes
Joseph Ortiz
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 14 years. Moved from Minneapolis for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is improving - we have mountains 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 tough. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Limited shopping options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Camila Harris
I'm a electrician and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
1 upvotes
Christian
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Highland. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
1 upvotes
Jack Cox
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 53, moved here 7 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Greenfield and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Boston, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
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