OK so I grew up here but left for a while. Rent is about $936/month for a decent place. Median household income is $65,473, which feels about average for the area. You can expect to pay around $936 for rent here. It's a a smaller city city with about 85,651 people. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
25 upvotes
20 Replies
Cora Smith
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Greenfield for 11 years. Moved from Phoenix for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is average - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield 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 cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Luke Jones
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation 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.
37 upvotes
Alice H.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
33 upvotes
Bennett Rivera
preach
29 upvotes
Jayden Moore
I work in finance here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is average. Happy to answer more specific questions..
29 upvotes
sf_delilah
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 52, moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Highland and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
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. Limited public transit options
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
24 upvotes
Wesley Rodriguez
This.
22 upvotes
Sophia W.
Moved here from Minneapolis about 4 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to community vibe but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Abigail F.
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 4 years. Moved from Raleigh for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is decent - we have desert landscapes 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 underrated. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Limited shopping options. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
17 upvotes
Adrian Gray
preach
16 upvotes
Piper K.
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
16 upvotes
Thomas R.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
14 upvotes
Luca R.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is decent in most areas.
10 upvotes
Carson W.
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
9 upvotes
Ariana Reed
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The safety is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
5 upvotes
chill_gianna86
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in North. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
5 upvotes
Andrew B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Eastside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in finance. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
1 upvotes
Grace Reed
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is job market. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
1 upvotes
Connor Moore
Bought a house here in 2017 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
0 upvotes
Kinsley L.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 10 years. Moved from Miami for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly 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:**
real estate is strong here. retail 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:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are challenging. 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. Winters are long and cold. Chain restaurants dominate. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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