First post here. We have two kids and Poverty rate is 24.2%, which is higher than I expected. The weather takes some getting used to. Worth the trade-offs? Property taxes are high but you get good services. The city has invested a lot in new development. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
49 upvotes
27 Replies
Daniel Smith
not my experience at all
40 upvotes
Katherine Martinez
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Highland area are challenging. Kids love it here.
37 upvotes
Landon Jimenez
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
34 upvotes
denvergirl2022
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Atlanta about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
31 upvotes
Maverick Gonzalez
hmm interesting perspective
28 upvotes
Alice Howard
couldn't agree more
27 upvotes
Jace Chavez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
25 upvotes
Katherine Clark
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
24 upvotes
Easton G.
I'm a sales manager and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
24 upvotes
Mia Hall
seconding this
23 upvotes
Angel
interesting, hadn't considered that
22 upvotes
Martha P.
wish I knew this sooner
20 upvotes
Natalie Roberts
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
Jose White
been saying this for years
17 upvotes
Leo Johnson
literally same
13 upvotes
Ian Wood
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 24, moved here 3 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Oak Park and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Property taxes are high
3. The job market situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Atlanta, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
12 upvotes
Scarlett Martinez
I work in finance here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is solid. Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Aiden Lopez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
11 upvotes
Eli H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 48, moved here 12 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Westside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The public transit situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
10 upvotes
Waylon Brooks
hmm interesting perspective
8 upvotes
Emmett Hall
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
6 upvotes
scarlett_kid
Moved here from Denver about 13 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to traffic but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
6 upvotes
Luca King
Bought a house here in 2020 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
4 upvotes
Alexa C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 5 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
Jace Rodriguez
Used to live on the East side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
3 upvotes
real_ezekiel33
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from New York about 9 years ago. The main reasons were weather and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
1 upvotes
Dylan Price
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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