Hey everyone, I've been here for 14 years and Rent is about $1,617/month for a decent place. You can expect to pay around $1,617 for rent here. The median home value here is around $420,600, which is pretty steep. Homes are going for about $420,600 on average. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up.
4 upvotes
25 Replies
Oliver B.
Totally agree!
39 upvotes
Madelyn Jones
haha yep pretty much
38 upvotes
Nolan Ramos
Came here for family and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The nightlife is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
38 upvotes
Allison Chavez
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The school system is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
37 upvotes
Quinn H.
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.
37 upvotes
Noah Gomez
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
34 upvotes
Serenity Cooper
seconding this
34 upvotes
Helen G.
I'm a pharmacist and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
32 upvotes
Larry G.
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The safety is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
Mackenzie Jackson
I've lived in Westside for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Affordable housing options
- The dating scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Nightlife is limited
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
Abigail T.
I've lived in Eastside for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Strong job market in several industries
- The dating scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
James R.
I've lived in Westside for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Diverse dining options
- The safety scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
24 upvotes
kcnative2021
facts
23 upvotes
Silas Edwards
wish I knew this sooner
20 upvotes
Adam D.
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
19 upvotes
Angel
I'm a sales manager and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
18 upvotes
Abigail B.
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
17 upvotes
Leah C.
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
16 upvotes
Violet Davis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 31, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Uptown and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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
lake_delilah43
I work in tech here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is decent. Good luck with whatever you decide..
12 upvotes
Evelyn
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely excellent and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (West) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
12 upvotes
Quinn Bailey
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. cost of living used to be much pricey but now it's surprisingly good.
10 upvotes
Jayden Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from San Diego 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 Westside. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
David Sanchez
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: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Elena S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Lakewood. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in tech. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.
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