Curious what people think. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is pretty low. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
29 upvotes
23 Replies
desert_caroline68
Came here for retirement and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The cultural scene is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
40 upvotes
Josiah Price
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
39 upvotes
Stella Bailey
accurate
38 upvotes
Leonardo Kim
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
36 upvotes
Wyatt
accurate
34 upvotes
Grayson Ramirez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
33 upvotes
Claire M.
seconding this
28 upvotes
happy_austin77
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Sunset) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
25 upvotes
Everett Taylor
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Daniel T.
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. pet-friendliness used to be much developing but now it's average.
24 upvotes
Zoe Reed
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Austin about 1 years ago. The main reasons were weather and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is excellent.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Definitely worth checking out..
21 upvotes
Stella Clark
spot on
19 upvotes
Jacob
Moved here from Baltimore about 7 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but Definitely worth checking out..
19 upvotes
Parker Collins
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
17 upvotes
John D.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Thai places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
16 upvotes
Addison C.
Can confirm, been here 14 years.
16 upvotes
Diane J.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
14 upvotes
Bella Sanchez
honestly same experience here
10 upvotes
Kennedy Ward
Bought a house here in 2019 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
8 upvotes
Gabriella M.
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Korean places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
8 upvotes
Quinn Stewart
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
4 upvotes
Hazel A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in government. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
4 upvotes
Daniel King
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 8 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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