Longtime lurker here, The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is pretty low. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Should I be concerned?
44 upvotes
28 Replies
Elijah Robinson
yeah no that's not right
40 upvotes
Cora Moore
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 12 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
39 upvotes
Greyson Ortiz
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 safety. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
38 upvotes
Sophie Morris
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
38 upvotes
Sophia W.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much established but now it's solid.
38 upvotes
Zoey Clark
Bought a house here in 2021 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
37 upvotes
Nancy C.
this is the way
33 upvotes
Jack Gray
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in West area are solid. Kids love it here.
32 upvotes
Adam Jones
nah I disagree
32 upvotes
Ellie S.
as a local I can confirm
28 upvotes
Aaron C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
25 upvotes
la_liam
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Downtown) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Limited entertainment options.
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
austinmama2021
Saving this thread
22 upvotes
Evan Turner
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 7 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Cameron Gray
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
17 upvotes
Eleanor
wish I knew this sooner
16 upvotes
Brooklyn G.
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much reasonable but now it's better than expected.
13 upvotes
Joseph Long
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 5 years. Moved from Seattle for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2019 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is average - 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. Highland schools are decent. 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 shopping options. Homeless population growing downtown. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
loving_kinsley32
I've lived in Greenfield for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The dating scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
Katherine K.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
13 upvotes
Caleb Morgan
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
12 upvotes
Nova Lewis
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Compared to Austin it's excellent.
11 upvotes
Ella
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Alice Taylor
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to San Francisco it's average.
6 upvotes
Roman
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
4 upvotes
Noah Kelly
bump
2 upvotes
William M.
great question, following
2 upvotes
Michael Sanders
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 13 years. Moved from Charlotte for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Limited entertainment options. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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