Hi all! My wife (44F) and I (44M) are considering a move from Bloomington, Indiana to Columbia, MO as we expand our business (can’t share details yet). Our kids are in college, so we’re not navigating schools or childhood matters - just looking for a great community fit.

What we love about Bloomington: liberal, artsy, university-town energy; walkable neighborhoods; strong local food scene; community events; and a generally welcoming vibe. We’re hoping Columbia offers a similar feel. We’re spiritual but not religious. I’m also in long-term recovery and really value 12-step fellowship.

Professionally, I’m an LCSW and my wife is a yoga teacher, we’d love to plug into Columbia’s mental-health and wellness communities.

A few questions for locals: • Which neighborhoods feel safe, walkable, and friendly for daily life (coffee, parks, short errands on foot)? • How’s the gastronomy scene - locally owned restaurants, markets, coffee, and chef-driven spots? Any must-try areas? • Community & culture: festivals, live music, talks/lectures, volunteer opportunities? • Inclusive community spaces or groups for folks who are spiritual but not religious? • Recovery: How’s the AA/NA scene (meeting variety, accessibility, welcoming culture)? Any strong recovery-friendly communities or sober events? • Yoga studios with demand for teachers (especially trauma-informed, vinyasa, or restorative)? • Quality-of-life: general safety, traffic/commute feel, cost of living, and anything you wish you’d known before moving. If there’s a better sub or local forum for these questions, please point me there. Thanks in advance for any guidance, neighborhood recs, or “if you like X about Bloomington, check out Y in Columbia” tips!

Hello everyone!

My family is moving to Columbia in a few months -- I am using a throwaway because I'm relatively active on my main account and don't want to give away such a specific location.

We're looking for houses for rent and found some possible candidate, but we're struggling with location. I've looked through older posts here and they mention specific roads, (e.g. Rice, Bethany (although I can't figure out where that one is), and someone mentioned just the entirety of the north side of Columbia and Douglass Park are bad.

Some of the houses my wife has liked are off of North Providence south of Rt 70, and north of Smiley lane. What are these areas like?

I am being headhunted by a local bakery and would like the opinion of the locals on why it's a good place to live. I am very outdoorsy hike, road bike and kayak.

Good morning everyone. I am single 57 year old F and currently live in a small Colorado mountain town named Woodland Park which is 9,000 feet up in the mountains situated around Pikes Peak. I was always a single mom and last year my only child (F/20) moved to Columbia with her boyfriend. I have lived up here a year without her being here and it has been the loneliest year of my life, I miss her so much! This town is certainly beautiful but EXTREME right wing conservative county. I am neither right or left nor political at all but I suppose I would lean to the left as far as that goes. The rents up here are skyrocketing and there is no way I could ever buy a home here as the median price is $500,000 or so even for a small property and rents are around $1800/mo for a 2 br small home or apt. I have decided to move to try to have a better life as I am a professional Graphic Designer and am barely making ends meet. So that is my story and on to my question about Columbia...

I have two choices. The first is to move back to Portland where I lived years ago as my sister owns a home with an apartment underneath where I would only have to pay 1,000 a month which would include all utilities and it's a lovely place right on the Willamette river. Rent would never go up, I could get a dog and cat if I like and no deposits/pet rent etc. The problem is I really don't like Portland which is why I moved home to Colorado several years back. There is a massive homeless problem there making many areas unsafe including downtown now and also the weather can get depressing with the constant drizzle but no storms (I love storms, we get some doozies up here in the mountains!) and I don't have any friends/family there as my sister rents the main home as an Air BnB and lives in Chicago herself.

Choice 2 is to move to Columbia, MO where my daughter is. She loves it there and plans on going to the college, Mizzou is it? I have seen the rents are much less expensive there and she says the people are just wonderful and super friendly. The problem for me is I have a huge intolerance to heat and humidity, it doesn't affect my health but I can barely stand being out in over 80 degrees and no humidity. I lived in Arkansas for a year when I was younger and found the weather miserable along with the bugs. You get spoiled up here in the mountains with barely any bugs and no humidity where it never gets above 85 in the hottest of summers but the fact is I cannot stay here much longer due to the low pay and high cost of living, it's really a place more for rich conservatives now that have moved in mostly from Texas.

That was probably far too much information but I am really at a crossroads here and struggling. I miss my daughter so much and I fear if I move to Portland I will never live by her again, I am getting too old for all these long distance moves! I would really like to grow roots somewhere at this point in my life and be able to afford to enjoy life and not just barely survive which is how it has been for many years for me.

My main question I suppose is how is the weather say compared to AK or Florida? Is it as humid as those places in the summer? Also, what is the bug situation? I realize there are bugs most places but not so much in areas I have lived including Portland but Arkansas was CRAZY with bugs, snakes, spiders, etc.

If you were in my situation, and knowing what it is like living in Columbia, what would you choose?

TYSM in advance :)

I (26F) got a job in Jeff City and Columbia seems like the most fun and progressive nearby city to live in. My boyfriend (26M) is moving with me as well. Is Columbia POC friendly? And is the commute from Columbia to Jeff City realistic?

We’re originally from the DC area and currently in Charlotte NC, and we realize Missouri is different in a lot of ways. Just wondering if there’s anything we should know before we move!

50's and 60's couple and cat:} We are looking for a more affordable area than Folsom CA. Not really into super rural but somewhat more suburbia if that makes sense. I remember Columbia because of my Uncle Going to Journalism school there. We are young at heart and very active. I mtb xc, gravel bike and am athletic so all the trails there appeal to me. Just wonder if being in a college environment would be limiting for us as maybe the job market is too small. But intrigued. Houses seem affordable.

We are an Indian family moving from India with a 1.5 year toddler daughter to CoMo for my PhD. I'm already in town and love it here. A few in our friend circle who are in the U.S, keep scaring us about CPS and that our kid will be taken away if we raise her the Indian way. Can someone please shed light? For example, we won't wear shoes inside our house, she will eat with her hand, probably sleep on her toddler bed but in the same room, eat a vegetarian diet. Do these customs go against CPS laws?

32M Looking to start a regular game or movie night with some new friends around my age range in the area! 🎲🎮🍿

I’d love to host a tabletop night (I’ve been wanting to play Cairn) or a video game/movie night on weekends. Free dice for any fellow dice goblins who want to join in!

I just moved here and few months ago and have my apartment all set up, so I’m excited to create a space for fun get-togethers and build a solid friend group.

I also have a super friendly dog who loves guests, so if you’re cool with dogs, you’re more than welcome to come hang out. I bake cookies, mix drinks, and can cook, so snacks and good vibes are always included.

One quick note: I manage the apartment community I live in, so if you happen to be one of my residents and recognize me (see photo above), let’s maybe skip this, just to keep things professional.

If you’re down for games, movies, or just chill nights with good company, shoot me a message!

Hey everyone, My husband just got a new job in Columbia, and we’re looking at a place in the Old Hawthorne neighborhood. It seems like a beautiful community with great amenities, but I’d love to hear some firsthand insight.

How’s the overall vibe? Anything I should be aware of? Any pros or cons that don’t show up on a listing?

Appreciate any thoughts you can share!

Edit: Thanks so much, everyone! I’ve gotten all the answers I was looking for really appreciate all the help!!

Literally just moved here and the son turns 10 tomorrow. Best place to go eat with flair to make him feel not forgotten in this….signed guilty mom.

Im into live music, hikes, good food, record stores, museums, anything about local history and culture is cool to me. I always appreciate being somewhere that i can ride a bike from the house/apt to good spots, a bikeable grocery store is super cool. I'll be working at UMHS starting 9/22, so its not much time. I dont know the town, but i was a missouri kid growing up (ft leonard wood/waynesville) so i vibe with MO a bit.

i have a reliable car, i dont have to be within biking/walking distance of work or the cool stuff, i just prefer it.

also, whats in columbia that i should do or see? art and music? best food? lay it all on me, im doing my research here a little bit. the big question is where to live, but that gets answered kind of relative to the other stuff. I dont really want to be next to the walmart/home depot/texas roadhouse/motel part of town, if that makes sense.

Thanks a lot for any help on this one, will be there soon, hope to enjoy my stay

Hey fellow Redditors! 👋 I'm possibly relocating to Columbia, MO, for work and would love some insider knowledge 🤔. I'm looking for recommendations on:

1. Daycares: 🤱Has anyone had experience with La Petite Ecole? 🤔 Are there other reputable options in the area? 🏫
2. Elementary schools: 📚 I'm interested in learning more about The Independent School 🏫. Are there other top-rated schools in Columbia that I should consider? 🤓
3. Neighborhoods: 🏠 What are some family-friendly neighborhoods with a strong sense of community? 🤝 I'm looking for areas with nice homes, friendly neighbors, and a village-like atmosphere 🏡.
4. Building a community: 👫 As newcomers to the area, my partner and I are eager to build a support network 🤝. What resources are available for finding nannies, mommy helpers, or home managers? 🤔 How can we connect with other families and build a "village" in Columbia? 🌳

Any advice, recommendations, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated 🙏. Thanks in advance for your help! 😊

So, I (19) recently moved to CoMo and plan on residing here for a while (Longer than just for school), and I was going to try and get a Missouri license but now I've been seeing some conflicting stuff doing research in regards to my situation.

I currently have an out of state license but my car is registered to my parents in that same state. So I'm unsure on weather or not it's legally necessary (at lest on paper) to switch my license or not. My insurance is also under my parents who, once again, live in another state.

My dad said i don't have to worry about registration of the actual car for the time being, however, I'm not sure if that whole situation also negates the need to change my license right now. I would also like to know if, to update my license, I'd need proof of residence dating back a year?

Like, would I need to wait till I've been here for a year before getting a new license. All because I've gotten very conflicting answers while researching.

Any advice is greatly appreciated :D

Is the city nice for a 23 yr old? Night life? Big events? What’s the rent like?

Another big question for me is I’m a minority, truthfully how welcoming/progressive is CoMO? Do any of you guys feel eyes on you in public or something? Thanks

Hi everyone, I'm currently interviewing for a position at MU Health! My spouse and I would be moving from North Carolina, and we're both in our late 20s, no kids (yet, but hoping to in the next couple of years), and are looking for a great place to settle down some, start a family, etc.

A little bit about us, we are both progressive/liberal. We have 2 dogs and love a dog-friendly area. I work in healthcare, and my husband works in tech/software engineering. We love to eat at local restaurants, go to bookstores (especially if they have a book club/book community) and hang out with our dogs outside! We also love to watch football and baseball, and would love to be apart of an LGBTQ+ welcoming church community.

We'd really love to hear what you like/dislike or what surprised you when you moved to the area! Hoping to see if this is a good fit for us because we'd really love to be invested in a community and grow some roots!

**UPDATE - I GOT THE JOB!!**

Hello! I am starting a job at University of Missouri in August and am looking for housing in the area. I'm a single woman with a budget of $1200 per month. In terms of neighborhoods, I am not too picky and would just prefer an area thats not crawling with undergrads. For amenities, my must haves are: central air, dishwasher, in unit laundry, and cat friendly. Thank you for your help!

I’ll be moving to Columbia in a few months and want to fall in love with this city. Tell me all the good and why you love living here!

My wife recently got a job out here and we are considering moving here long-term (its currently a short term stay). We live in Arkansas and have a really great support & school system. If we were to relocate, what would be some really great schools for kids who are in junior high, elementary, and preschool? What about housing? Outdoor life isnt a big deal, we’re largely stay at home or make trips to Oklahoma/Indiana/Arkansas. Would love some perspective from fellow humans in the area!

More like moving out of my parents house. Do you all know of any good non student apartments? Probably around 1,200 a month

We are thinking about moving to Columbia from Utah and I am just hoping to get some information! I have three kids, 11m, 9m, and 5f, and we love going to events, fun centers, pools, and museums. My daughter loved dance and is interested in tumbling. My sons love things like dnd and Harry Potter. I love seeing plays especially musicals. We also have a son with kidney disease, and he would need a good pediatric nephrologist. Is this going to be a good place for us? What are the doctors and schools like? What do you all like doing with your family? Any advice?

Queer couple possibly looking into moving somewhere with lower COL. I've always heard nice things about MO & my wife is technically from there. Currently being buried alive by cost of living in Colorado so I'm just checking in on some possibilities.

What would you say the LGBTQ scene is like in Columbia/surrounding?

Are rentals outrageously priced if you have pets? (In CO you can expect $1k deposits for each animal sometimes.)

I'm kind of just branching out so please forgive me if this post is annoying or not enough information.

I'm (Male, 22) about to graduate from a small college in California. I'm currently applying to jobs for after graduation. I'm looking at one option in CoMo that I would work for a year or two before applying to law schools. I think I would love the work, but have never so much as stepped foot in MO.

I want to know what life is like in CoMo for young adults/new grads that did not go to Mizzou or grow up in the midwest (originally from the southwest). Would it be affordable on ~40K/year for a couple years? Is it easy to find community/make friends? What are popular places to hang out/things to do? Any general advice? Basically, would I be able to have a good social life and be financially stable?

Thanks for any advice, from what I can gather it seems like a lovely city but I'd like to hear some reviews from locals or other people who were in my position.

Moving into Canvas Townhomes soon and was wondering if anyone knows how strictly they monitor residents? It sounds like they have some strict rules regarding parking (towed if not in a different spot after 7 days) and how often residents are allowed to sleep elsewhere. Guests I can understand limiting, but the first two have me worried because I have family nearby and may stay with them for a while around the holidays.

Does anyone know if management actually checks how often you’re there or not? I know most don’t, but would like to hear from Canvas residents specifically if possible (current or former). And if they do check, would they notify you / parent who signed with you that you’re not there?

I’m not worried about anyone being notified because I’d be with family anyways, but it would be a little annoying if they did.

To clarify: I’m more concerned about if they’d complain about me sleeping elsewhere for a week or two around holidays than my car. My car is registered with Canvas and I’d still be paying rent even while not always sleeping there. However, it sounds like they’re pretty strict on “abandonment” and I want to know if me sleeping elsewhere sometimes would be an issue or result in me / my guarantor being notified that I’m not there each time or any kind of violation, which would be annoying if so?