I relocated for work and It's a a smaller city city with about 44,944 people. Median household income is $119,093, which feels pretty solid for the area. Household incomes average around $119,093 in Riverton. You can expect to pay around $1,826 for rent here. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. What do you all think? Appreciate any input. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The weather takes some getting used to. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
20 upvotes
29 Replies
Sarah Long
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
40 upvotes
Jose Hughes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 8 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
37 upvotes
Jose Price
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
35 upvotes
Claire T.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 15 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
cool_axel28
Used to live on the North side, now on the Greenfield side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
32 upvotes
Vivian Martin
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in East area are improving. Kids love it here.
32 upvotes
Justin H.
100%
31 upvotes
Nicholas C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 4 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
31 upvotes
Isla Phillips
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Old Town. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
Declan Gray
yep
26 upvotes
Matthew F.
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much wild but now it's decent.
25 upvotes
Xavier Young
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely pretty good and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Sunset) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
22 upvotes
Austin Jones
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
Kayden Flores
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
19 upvotes
Everett
I work in finance here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is pretty good. Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
Joshua Baker
as a local I can confirm
15 upvotes
Emmett Martin
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 28, moved here 8 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The traffic situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Dallas, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
14 upvotes
Kinsley Green
I work in education here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is better than expected. No regrets on my end..
14 upvotes
Luke Garcia
Bought a house here in 2022 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
11 upvotes
Lucas Wilson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 14 years. Moved from Phoenix for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. 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 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. government 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 have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is average - 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. Highland schools are surprisingly good. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Limited entertainment options. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, 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.
11 upvotes
Theresa B.
good to know, thanks
8 upvotes
Joyce R.
Bought a house here in 2019 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
7 upvotes
denverlocal2021
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. school system 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.
6 upvotes
Andrea S.
haha yep pretty much
6 upvotes
John B.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Compared to Chicago it's surprisingly good.
3 upvotes
detroitsoul2024
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Sunset. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in finance. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Cheryl M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Nashville about 11 years ago. The main reasons were school and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. No regrets on my end..
2 upvotes
Eliana Nguyen
The food scene here is average. Tons of great seafood places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
2 upvotes
Grayson Ramirez
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..