Been meaning to ask this. I'm a teacher here and The median home value here is around $435,700, which is pretty steep. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Let me know your thoughts.
9 upvotes
29 Replies
Peyton C.
great question, following
40 upvotes
Kayden Sanders
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
39 upvotes
Peyton T.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The weather is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Declan Robinson
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much reasonable but now it's average.
37 upvotes
Ellie Adams
hmm interesting perspective
36 upvotes
Eleanor Garcia
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Old Town area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Lucas C.
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Ian
I've lived in Highland for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
- The community vibe scene is average
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
33 upvotes
Ian Ortiz
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Thomas R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
33 upvotes
Emilia B.
same here
27 upvotes
Madeline Long
great question, following
27 upvotes
Lillian Edwards
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 38, moved here 2 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Highland and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Can feel isolated
3. The pet-friendliness situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. 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 Baltimore, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K 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.
21 upvotes
Isaac Gutierrez
Moved here from Portland about 11 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to healthcare but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
18 upvotes
Grayson Hughes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 4 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
Lori C.
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The healthcare is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
14 upvotes
living_valentina55
haha yep pretty much
12 upvotes
Nicholas White
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Boston about 4 years ago. The main reasons were school and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
12 upvotes
Carson W.
Moved here from Denver about 2 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to cost of living but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
11 upvotes
Cooper Flores
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 6 years. Moved from Austin for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2023 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. consulting 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:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is average - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are better than expected. 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. Dating scene is rough. Far from beaches/mountains. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Adrian Watson
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
10 upvotes
maverick_mama
great question, following
10 upvotes
Mackenzie Diaz
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in Oak Park area are average. Kids love it here.
6 upvotes
Ellie
This.
5 upvotes
Ruby Price
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Westside area are solid. Kids love it here.
4 upvotes
Willow M.
seconding this
1 upvotes
Greyson Jackson
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The weather is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
1 upvotes
Anna
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is solid in most areas.
1 upvotes
Delilah Walker
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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