Random thought, My family moved here when I was a kid. The unemployment rate is 2.4%, which is pretty low. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Am I overthinking this? Thanks for reading. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
14 upvotes
30 Replies
Madeline Smith
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Salt Lake City it's surprisingly good.
40 upvotes
Thomas Ross
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Springfield area are solid. Kids love it here.
38 upvotes
Alice Wright
literally same
38 upvotes
Paisley King
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 8 years. Moved from Miami for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. tech 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:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is tough - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are better than expected. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Road conditions need improvement. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Jose Thomas
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Austin about 14 years ago. The main reasons were work and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is average.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
36 upvotes
Kai Diaz
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Henry Wilson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in government. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
34 upvotes
Abigail Gomez
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.
34 upvotes
Jonathan Peterson
thanks for sharing
33 upvotes
loving_sophie40
bump
31 upvotes
Hazel Howard
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Seattle it's surprisingly good.
30 upvotes
Wyatt Wright
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much manageable but now it's surprisingly good.
28 upvotes
Ryan Young
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Lydia James
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Aiden Campbell
this is the way
24 upvotes
Violet Edwards
wish I knew this sooner
23 upvotes
Everett Cruz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 3 years. Moved from Baltimore for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2021 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. construction 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. East schools are tough. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Hudson Walker
same here
19 upvotes
Scarlett Brown
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Cedar Grove side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
18 upvotes
Aubrey Lopez
spot on
18 upvotes
Axel Ward
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
18 upvotes
Bella Hughes
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 15 years. Moved from Dallas for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2020 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:**
engineering is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have rivers 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 pretty 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. Limited public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Ryan H.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is solid in most areas.
11 upvotes
Allison Brown
I work in engineering here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is excellent. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
11 upvotes
Aaron Sanders
bump
10 upvotes
Melanie Lopez
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Mexican places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
8 upvotes
Maya King
Moved here last year, no regrets.
6 upvotes
Avery M.
I work in real estate here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
Nova Hughes
Bought a house here in 2022 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
5 upvotes
Robert Perez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is improving in most areas.
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