I'm originally from St. Louis and Homes are going for about $396,000 on average. You can expect to pay around $1,917 for rent here. It's a a mid-size city city with about 150K people. Household incomes average around $93,371 in Surprise. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Am I wrong here? Thanks for reading. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
4 upvotes
14 Replies
Elizabeth S.
literally same
40 upvotes
Kayden Gutierrez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Houston it's average.
38 upvotes
Parker Turner
hard disagree but ok
38 upvotes
nola_lillian
underrated comment
37 upvotes
William Reed
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 36, moved here 1 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Springfield and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Nashville, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
26 upvotes
Clara Morales
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 traffic is genuinely decent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (West) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
26 upvotes
Samuel E.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
26 upvotes
Everett Wright
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 44, moved here 4 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Midtown and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for couples. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Boston, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
18 upvotes
Cora C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in construction. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
12 upvotes
true_axel63
couldn't agree more
9 upvotes
Angel Ramos
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely challenging and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Highland) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
8 upvotes
Katherine Morales
noted, appreciate it
4 upvotes
Carter E.
I'm a electrician and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
3 upvotes
Caleb R.
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
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