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Caleb Gray
best-worst
Things that make Robinson unique
Not sure if this has been asked before, but Should I be concerned? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
13 upvotes
12 Replies
Bella Adams
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 6 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 6 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Andrew Sanders
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 9 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 9 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
31 upvotes
Adam C.
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The nightlife is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Nora Thomas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
30 upvotes
dc_ella
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Old Town. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in tech. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Old Town. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in tech. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
29 upvotes
Adam
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 34, moved here 5 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Oak Park and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The safety situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Charlotte, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 34, moved here 5 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Oak Park and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The safety situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Charlotte, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
27 upvotes
Violet K.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Austin about 6 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Austin about 6 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Scarlett Cooper
bump
22 upvotes
Chloe Ross
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is improving in most areas.
15 upvotes
Mason Sanders
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is excellent in most areas.
12 upvotes
Grace H.
been saying this for years
7 upvotes
Alice T.
couldn't agree more
3 upvotes