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Christian O.
housing
Rent vs buy in Aurora — what makes sense?
Not sure if this has been asked before, but The food scene here is surprisingly good.
41 upvotes
17 Replies
George H.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely excellent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely excellent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
34 upvotes
Isaiah Johnson
bump
32 upvotes
Gabriella Davis
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 3 years. Moved from Houston for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Can feel isolated. Limited entertainment options. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Eastside for 3 years. Moved from Houston for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Can feel isolated. Limited entertainment options. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
30 upvotes
Anthony G.
I've been living here for 6 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The dating scene is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
29 upvotes
Jacob
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the Downtown side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
29 upvotes
Mason H.
literally same
26 upvotes
Luna Peterson
exactly what I was thinking
23 upvotes
Grace Morales
haha yep pretty much
22 upvotes
Evelyn Thomas
spot on
22 upvotes
Allison Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 33, moved here 2 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Riverside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Chicago, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
Background: I'm a teacher, 33, moved here 2 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Riverside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Chicago, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
18 upvotes
John Turner
interesting, hadn't considered that
18 upvotes
William Sanchez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 31, moved here 3 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Highland and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The weather situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Seattle, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$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.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 31, moved here 3 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Highland and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The weather situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Seattle, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$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.
18 upvotes
jose_mind
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Mexican places. it exceeded my expectations.
15 upvotes
kc_eva
I've lived in Oak Park for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Chicago, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining options
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Chicago, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining options
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Good luck with whatever you decide..
14 upvotes
Violet Evans
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
14 upvotes
sddude2020
underrated comment
6 upvotes
Gabriella Reed
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
0 upvotes