Random thought, Homes are going for about $621,900 on average. Crime rate is something to consider -Beverly sits at 111.1 per 100K. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. What would you do? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
19 upvotes
30 Replies
Nathan P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 9 years. Moved from Nashville for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is improving - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West 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. Dating scene is rough. Bugs and humidity in summer. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Samuel N.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Benjamin G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 29, moved here 1 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Riverside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. solid 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 Baltimore, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K 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.
36 upvotes
Ariana Gomez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
35 upvotes
Andrew M.
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Katherine Rodriguez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 5 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
31 upvotes
Aiden T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely underrated and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (South) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
27 upvotes
Alexa Smith
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
26 upvotes
Delilah James
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to San Diego it's better than expected.
25 upvotes
Madeline
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Houston about 1 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Limited shopping options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are affordable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Ethan Rogers
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 5 years. Moved from Tampa for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. 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 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are improving. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Road conditions need improvement. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
23 upvotes
Jordan C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 29, moved here 11 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in North and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Property taxes are high
3. The job market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for young professionals. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
23 upvotes
denver_logan
Used to live on the South side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
21 upvotes
Arianna R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 12 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
21 upvotes
Mateo Mendoza
great question, following
16 upvotes
Sebastian
I'm a teacher and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
14 upvotes
Victoria C.
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
11 upvotes
Isaac Campbell
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
10 upvotes
jaxon_fan
I've lived in Oak Park for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Close to major attractions
- The food scene scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Caleb H.
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The walkability is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Hannah Moore
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
7 upvotes
Adrian Parker
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Minneapolis about 7 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are growing, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
James C.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. school system 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.
7 upvotes
Maverick Kim
wish I knew this sooner
6 upvotes
Scarlett Bailey
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Meadowbrook. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
4 upvotes
Isaiah Lewis
+1
3 upvotes
Ellie Cook
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Denver it's decent.
3 upvotes
Declan Ortiz
I'm a physical therapist and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
3 upvotes
omahamind2020
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much wild but now it's challenging.
3 upvotes
Jonathan Ramos
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Uptown area are underrated. Kids love it here.
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