Hello, It's a a mid-size city city with about 108K people. You can expect to pay around $1,005 for rent here. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Am I wrong here? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up.
35 upvotes
27 Replies
Wesley Cruz
spot on
40 upvotes
Ian Ruiz
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is average in most areas.
40 upvotes
Lily Robinson
lol so true
38 upvotes
Paisley King
haha yep pretty much
37 upvotes
Delilah Brooks
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
36 upvotes
Violet D.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 30, moved here 6 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in West and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited shopping options
3. The school system situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
34 upvotes
samuel_living
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 1 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2016 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Highland schools are surprisingly good. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Chain restaurants dominate. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Grayson
hmm interesting perspective
31 upvotes
Diana M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
28 upvotes
Allison Davis
been saying this for years
26 upvotes
Lily
yep
26 upvotes
Camila Roberts
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 30, moved here 13 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The weather situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K 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.
25 upvotes
Michael Collins
glad someone said it
23 upvotes
Ryan Ward
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 3 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
21 upvotes
Olivia Bennett
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Greenfield for 4 years. Moved from Raleigh for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2024 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is improving - we have beaches 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 decent. 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. Property taxes are high. Bugs and humidity in summer. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
20 upvotes
Christian C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 44, moved here 1 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Riverside and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good internet infrastructure
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. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for couples. improving 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 San Francisco, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K 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.
19 upvotes
Sophie Taylor
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it exceeded my expectations.
18 upvotes
Katherine T.
bump
15 upvotes
Emma Alvarez
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Springfield area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
15 upvotes
Ian Morris
big facts right here
12 upvotes
Sophie Williams
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Minneapolis 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 Fairview. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
milwaukeelover2020
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.
11 upvotes
Ezra
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Tampa about 9 years ago. The main reasons were weather and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are wild, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
9 upvotes
loving_zoe78
good to know, thanks
4 upvotes
Ian Alvarez
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The walkability is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
4 upvotes
Billy R.
I'm a data analyst and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
3 upvotes
Jameson M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 27, moved here 5 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Riverside and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The job market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. improving 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 Austin, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
All Countries
