OK so Born and raised here. It's a a smaller city city with about 29,735 people. Rent is about $1,855/month for a decent place. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Thoughts? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
4 upvotes
15 Replies
Wesley Ward
spot on
39 upvotes
Philip B.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from LA about 4 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are manageable, gas is solid.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
Leonardo Anderson
noted, appreciate it
37 upvotes
Ella J.
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Aurora Clark
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Fairview. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
Oliver Clark
great question, following
34 upvotes
Audrey Edwards
yep
33 upvotes
James Torres
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Phoenix about 3 years ago. The main reasons were weather and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
32 upvotes
Asher Mendoza
following this thread
24 upvotes
Charlotte Wright
it depends on the neighborhood
20 upvotes
Emily Howard
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much wild but now it's tough.
19 upvotes
Caleb Brooks
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Denver it's average.
18 upvotes
weston_kid
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 24, moved here 9 years ago from Miami. I've lived in West and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Miami, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
14 upvotes
Piper D.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Serenity Watson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 6 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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