A city on the upswing. - 10/14/2019

Springfield is experiencing a rejeuvenation. Does the city have issues? Of course, what medium-sized city doesn't? During the past year, a new $1 billion MGM casino/hotel/entertainment center has opened downtown. The city's street life and restaurants, although not perfect, have improved. Lots of interesting museums and sites are in close proximity including the Basketball Hall of Fame, the new-ish Dr. Seuss Museum and the Springfield Armory. A new transportation hub (Union Station) with much more frequent service to Southern New England, New York City and Washington DC recently opened. Many lovely neighborhoods close to downtown. Again, not a perfect city, but it's on the upswing. BTW, police substations have been installed all over downtown.

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New resident, and I love it - 3/14/2017

This city has a bad rep that is unwarranted. I just bought a terrific little house in a quiet and friendly neighborhood. Everywhere I go in this town, people are friendlier than in the snotty Berkshires, where I lived for 25 years. It's also not the lily-white of that elitist enclave. I feel just as safe here as I did there. The city has a lot of pot holes, and it doesn't plow snow often, but I can live with those flaws. We also have one of the best hospitals in the state. My utilities are 25% of what they were in the Berkshires, so I don't know why the cost of living is so high. RE taxes are much lower. Car insurance is higher, but it is in any city. Convenient to major airports, NYC, Boston, Northampton, shopping, restaurants, museums. Buy here now while it is still affordable.

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City of Homes - 8/13/2014

I just moved to Springfield almost a year now. I moved there because I know the housing stock there is plentiful. It's also very affordable. The most affordable place to buy in the state. They are behind most areas in terms of redevelopmeent. However, I think there is a huge opportunity to build a great city with all the ammenities of any thriving city. Springfield has wonderful museums, historic neighborhoods and rich history. For me, I think it can only get better!

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demographics - 6/10/2013

I just wanted to correct the demographic info presented on this site. As of the 2010 census, the breakdown for Springfield, MA as listed on the Springfield, MA city data website is as follows: Hispanic: 38.8% Caucasian: 36.7% African American: 19.6% Asian: 2.4% 2 or more races: 2.1% American Indian 0.2% Other: 0.23%

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Crime down over 50% since 2033 - 6/15/2011

Springfield ranks #51 in the annual US City Crime Rankings now after ranking #18 in 2003. Its crime rating has fallen by over 50% in that time.

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Artists in Metro Center - Springfield, Massachuset - 6/15/2011

In 2010, I moved to Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, because of its arts & entertainment scene and also because I really liked the place's vibe. In my opinion, you can't underestimate how important that is. Some places just 'feel right' and Metro Center feels right to me. There are reasons though. Metro Center is a fun, walkable, urban neighborhood. It has a lot of quirky, bohemian residents, and interesting empty-nesters -- people who want an urban environment and the culture that goes with it. There are a lot of music venues, new restaurants, and places to get coffee. I'm an artist (oil painter) so Springfield's arts and cultural communities are important to me. When I moved here, people were very helpful to me in introducing me to contacts -- so I felt a part of the community quickly. It's the friendliest place I've lived, in that way. I think that 'community vibe' has to do with the fact that a lot of these people are new to Springfield. Most people I know have moved to Springfield within the past five years. 5-10 years ago, I think some people essentially re-discovered this city -- historic, attractive architecture, lots of culture, and without the high prices. That's an unbeatable combo, I think!! Like the earlier, recent post says, I don't recognize today's Springfield in the old posts on here about the city. It doesn't have a crime problem anymore; I know that. Metro Center is totally safe--there are a few outer neighborhoods that aren't great, but from what I understand, there hasn't been a murder in Metro Center in at least 7 years, maybe more. Like I wrote before, Springfield has a great vibe--it's tough to describe. Driving by the city on the highway does it a HIGE DISSERVICE. From the highway, you can't see how beautiful the city's architecture is on street level. You can't see how vibrant the downtown is at all times of day and night. You get no sense of the city, and that's unfortunate because I think a lot of people would like living here. All of the new construction -- the first U.S. high-speed rail, the Hospital of the Future, the Springfield Data Center, the new Union Station, the new commuter rail to Vermont. The constructions crews are here in full force, so I think that people are beginning to catch on to what's happening here!

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A LOT to do!! Urban living without the high expens - 6/15/2011

In 2011, I moved to Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts for the eclectic, urban arts scene -- I bought a condo, and in my opinion, it has been the best relocation I've ever made. I moved to Springfield from the college town of Northampton, Massachusetts. Before that, I lived all over the place -- in Oxford, England; Cologne, Germany; Boston; Chicago; San Francisco, Cape Cod, and most recently New Haven, Connecticut. I tend to gravitate toward artistic, bohemian cities, where there's a lot of creative people. I'm in my late 20s and own my own videography/website development company. While living in Northampton -- just 15 miles north of Springfield -- I became familiar with Springfield , especially its Metro Center, ( downtown.) By going to coffee shops and music venues, I started to meet a lot of creative people who live in Springfield -- artists, photographers, musicians -- people who, like me, are attracted to eclectic, urban environments. As of 2011, that's what Springfield's Metro Center is. Personally, reading the older reviews of Springfield -- in my opinion, that information doesn't pass the reality test right now. That said, in defense of the older reviews, I've learned that a lot of creative people migrated here after gay marriage was legalized here in 2004. At the time, during the real estate boom, Springfield real estate was cheap -- and the architecture is very attractive (Springfield's nicknamed "The City of Homes" for a good reason,) even by New England urban standards. It's walkable. Of course, the bohemians came!! With the United States' first-ever high-speed train coming to Springfield in 2015, (from Springfield to my old hometown of New Haven,) and cranes all over the city, building the $300 million "The Hospital of the Future" and the $110 million "Springfield Data Center," a $75 million renovation of Union Station for a $75 million, 2012 commuter line to Springfield's northern suburbs, (like Northampton,) among other projects... I'm confident that my condo investment was a sound one. :) To sum up this review, I believe that Springfield has something for everyone -- especially people who like culture, and definitely now that the city is safe and there's a lot of construction and positive enthusiasm here. I'd recommend Metro Center to anyone who likes artistic, bohemian environments -- photographers, painters, musicians, LGBT, and empty-nesters -- people like me, who are seeking a cheap, cool city.

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Springfield, Mass -- downtown has revitalized A LO - 3/28/2011

Growing up, I lived in the Springfield suburb of Longmeadow, (I moved there when I was 7 in 1990.) The City of Springfield was at its depths during the 1990s and early 2000s with blight and crime. (At the time it had a nationally known rave scene--largely because it had numerous abandoned warehouses.) I left the Springfield area for ten years to go to college and travel around the world. I lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Oxford, England, Boston, Cologne, Germany, and New Haven, Connecticut, among other places. Ten years later, I come back to Springfield and find that the city's vibe has completely changed for the better!! According to statistics--and it's also obvious just walking around--crime in Springfield is way down from when I left the area 10 years ago, (in fact, it's lower than where I live now--New Haven, CT;) the streets are much more alive and fun; and a lot of the downtown architecture has been nicely restored. The city's biggest problem, right now, I think, is PR from being so bad 10 for a long time... When I told my friend how much nicer it had gotten, he didn't believe me!! Until he went back himself. :)

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Expensive, but some of the cheapiest in New Englan - 7/6/2010

Springfield has a gluttony of very nice houses, and the prices are much more affordable than other metro areas in New England. We moved to Springfield from Boston and got triple the space for the same price. Be on the lookout for what neighborhood you're in, though. Springfield has a bad ones. Good ones, too.

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Abismal area - 6/4/2007

They need to eliminate stop lights in Springfield, in order to get through it as fast as humanly possible. Also worth noting, do not stop to use a public restroom, there are very few stalls without a hookers # or sprayed diareaha all over the place in them. Well-traveled

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City not what it once was - 4/17/2007

Corrupt politicians, businesses evacuating faster than the "gold rush", rising property taxes and depleted law enforcement have cost this city dearly. Many have bolted elsewhere.

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great place to live - 4/16/2007

Tremendous architecture abounds. Large victorian neighborhoods, Beautiful downtown structures, Impressive history given its small size, large number of beautiful neighborhood, parks, inexpensive housing, easy commute, great cultural amenities,

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A complete joke of a city!! - 4/15/2007

Don't move to Springfield. If you value your car and household jewels, dont go to Springfield. The crime is rising faster than you could believe and the roads are bombarded with serious potholes. You'll be visiting Midas every week. Bottom line is this.... Terrible city to live in , the schools suck, high violent crime,no nightlife, unless you want to smoke a cigar in some dumpy bar and pretend your in the mob. Dont waste your money!

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Scarey Place - 4/3/2007

Don't move there. Dangerous.

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Bad crime. - 4/13/2006

The great white flight is in full effect.

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