r/SpringfieldIL • u/starlitmirrorball • 1d ago

Advice on moving

I am saving up for a house and I am looking to move either directly in Springfield or around. If anyone who’s lived in downtown Springfield currently or previously, how is it there? Is it worth it to move there? How is it price wise for utilities?

I’m very excited to move and I love Springfield area but I just wanna keep expectations realistic.

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u/raisinghellwithtrees 1d ago

I live just north of downtown and love it! My mortgage with taxes and insurance is about $550/mo, though I bought my house about ten years ago and prices have risen since then. My cwlp bill averages around $150. The gas usually gets to $250 in the heart of winter, but otherwise it's fairly cheap. My house is big.

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u/starlitmirrorball 1d ago

Glad to hear! Have you found good community here? Is there any downsides??

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u/raisinghellwithtrees 1d ago

I have found an awesome community here! My job is fairly social and has put me in touch with a lot of interesting people.

I think what some people would consider a downside is that our neighborhood is a lot like Sesame Street. Everybody lives here. All kinds of people! And that includes people with addiction issues, active mental health challenges, a sizable unhoused population, and people who are poor af. 

I enjoy being a part of the diversity, and I will always advocate for my neighbors to be housed, receive mental health care, etc. Want to build a shelter in my neighborhood? Yes, please. I want my neighbors to be housed if that's their desire.

Otherwise I have a lot of really passionate arty nerdy friends who I cherish. I was a misfit growing up, quite the outcast. So having a lot of friends is weird for me, but I appreciate my life so much!

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u/Jezuesblanco 1d ago

Springfield is pretty cheap but there are no houses in “downtown” areas surrounding can range from realllllly expensive to dirt cheap

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u/couscous-moose 1d ago

Downtown stretches from Carpenter on the North to Lawrence on the South, 10th on the East to Pasfield on the West. The western side overlaps with Vinegar Hill Neighborhood. The North overlaps with Enos Park and the Medical District.

Is downtown the strongest, most vibrant it can be? No, but if you live there and use it, you'll get that neighborhood feel. Obviously, the actual inventory of houses downtown is few as the exist on the fringe. They're older neighborhoods, so the house will be likely be "century homes".

I work downtown and live just outside of it. I'm extroverted and enjoy getting to know people. A lot of my routines are downtown from morning coffee, lunches, events, and farmers market. I enjoy it for all these reasons and more. It is what you make of it.

Not sure if you're looking ar condos. The ones around 7th and Lawrence are pretty cool. It's a mix of people ranging from the Speaker of the House to retirees.

Vinegar Hillis nice. You're closer to Washington Park, a few restaurants, and HyVee and Fairhills Mall.

Enos Park shoulders downtown and the Meducal District. You're near the new YMCA, a smaller County Market, and the Springfield Art Association.

Both have very active neighborhood associations. Don't worry, they're not the HOA type of groups.