OK so I'm a teacher here and Median household income is $47,930, which feels on the lower side for the area. Rent is about $893/month for a decent place. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
28 upvotes
14 Replies
Emma James
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
22 upvotes
Elizabeth Martin
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
21 upvotes
stl_lillian
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in West area are improving. Kids love it here.
19 upvotes
Josiah Brooks
100%
14 upvotes
Benjamin G.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
13 upvotes
Edward P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 15 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2018 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. hospitality 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's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Springfield 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. Limited public transit options. Chain restaurants dominate. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Roman
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 12 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Sophie Gonzalez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 4 years. Moved from Baltimore for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. 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. Old Town schools are hit or miss. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Chain restaurants dominate. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
8 upvotes
Valentina Lee
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
5 upvotes
Melanie A.
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much growing but now it's tough.
5 upvotes
Benjamin M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
2 upvotes
Santiago Turner
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Korean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
1 upvotes
Zoe Carter
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
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