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Jeremiah Taylor
moving
Couple moving to Brooklyn from out of state
Curious what people think. Born and raised here. The median home value here is around $153,000, whi
13 upvotes
13 Replies
Lucas Cruz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 4 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. marketing 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are excellent. 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. Winters are long and cold. Bugs and humidity in summer. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Oak Park for 4 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. marketing 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are excellent. 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. Winters are long and cold. Bugs and humidity in summer. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Emilia G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in government. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in government. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Carol E.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Everett C.
honestly same experience here
30 upvotes
happy_wyatt67
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in retail. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in retail. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
25 upvotes
riley_native
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 6 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 6 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
24 upvotes
Chloe Martinez
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 weather is genuinely challenging and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely challenging and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
22 upvotes
Paisley Morris
underrated comment
20 upvotes
Eva Bennett
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in North area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
14 upvotes
Wesley D.
Can confirm, been here 14 years.
7 upvotes
William A.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Portland about 4 years ago. The main reasons were work and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a writer who relocated here from Portland about 4 years ago. The main reasons were work and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
Victoria Murphy
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
3 upvotes
Philip R.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
3 upvotes