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Jace Long living

The good and bad of living in Utica

Been living here since 2021. Median household income is $51,513, which feels on the lower side for the area. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $133,400, which is actually reasonable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. TIA! There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
24 upvotes

6 Replies

tulsa_mia
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 nightlife is genuinely pretty good and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (The Heights) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.

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.
39 upvotes
Austin Wood
spot on
38 upvotes
Aurora Edwards
I've lived in Springfield for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The walkability scene is improving

The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Can feel isolated

Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Cora M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.

I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Would recommend to anyone considering it..
17 upvotes
Aurora Hughes
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much stable but now it's challenging.
17 upvotes
Luke Scott
bump
11 upvotes
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