Curious what people think. I'm a teacher here and Does this match your experience?
17 upvotes
24 Replies
Addison M.
as a local I can confirm
37 upvotes
Alexander C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 7 years. Moved from Baltimore for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are average. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Limited high-paying job options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Jack Hall
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Madelyn Thompson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 45, moved here 7 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Oak Park and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
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. Winters are long and cold
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The public transit situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
35 upvotes
Elizabeth Ward
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 14 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly 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:**
tech is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is improving - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are hit or miss. 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. Limited public transit options. Dating scene is rough. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Riley Richardson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in West. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Leonardo T.
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
28 upvotes
Sadie G.
honestly same experience here
28 upvotes
Maya Cruz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from San Diego about 10 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Russell K.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
25 upvotes
Joyce C.
100%
22 upvotes
Melanie
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great BBQ places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
15 upvotes
Eli Cruz
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
15 upvotes
Lucy Williams
interesting, hadn't considered that
14 upvotes
Bennett Allen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Highland. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Savannah Johnson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Hailey B.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
11 upvotes
Naomi Hughes
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is safety. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
10 upvotes
Cora Nelson
thanks for sharing
9 upvotes
Cameron
seconding this
8 upvotes
William Lopez
underrated comment
7 upvotes
Maya R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Minneapolis about 3 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Audrey R.
hard disagree but ok
4 upvotes
tampa_ryan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in tech. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Italian.