Hey, Poverty rate is 4.1%, which is pretty low. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cheers. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The weather takes some getting used to. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
10 upvotes
10 Replies
Lucy Wright
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
36 upvotes
Kimberly G.
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Sadie Gomez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
23 upvotes
Aaliyah Chavez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
21 upvotes
Anna Flores
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The walkability is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
17 upvotes
Audrey Rodriguez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
16 upvotes
Cooper Hill
same here
13 upvotes
Emmett C.
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much pricey but now it's surprisingly good.
7 upvotes
Elizabeth B.
as a local I can confirm
6 upvotes
Robert W.
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The traffic is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
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