OK so I'm a teacher here and It's a a small town city with about 2,978 people. Crime rate is something to consider -Ava sits at 275.7 per 100K. Average temperature is around 56--F, so the weather is moderate. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Would love some local perspective. Thanks for reading. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
2 upvotes
10 Replies
Olivia F.
following this thread
39 upvotes
Linda P.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Lydia Carter
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 50, moved here 10 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The safety situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for families. challenging 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 Minneapolis, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
32 upvotes
Jackson
Came here for school and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The pet-friendliness is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
23 upvotes
Willow Sanchez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Phoenix about 13 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Happy to answer more specific questions..
21 upvotes
Thomas Y.
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Eastside area are decent. Kids love it here.
20 upvotes
Sarah Ruiz
I'm a chef and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
20 upvotes
Lucy Nelson
big facts right here
18 upvotes
Scott M.
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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