I'm a teacher here and Average temperature is around 65--F, so the weather is moderate. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What do you all think? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
5 upvotes
24 Replies
hazel_native
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Oak Park area are underrated. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Amelia Ruiz
facts
39 upvotes
mountain_sophia27
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Downtown) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
39 upvotes
Connor Price
hmm interesting perspective
37 upvotes
Jameson M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 7 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
Nicholas Brown
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is dating scene. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Savannah Brooks
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
32 upvotes
Xavier Smith
as a local I can confirm
31 upvotes
Willow C.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
31 upvotes
Roman Flores
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 30, moved here 15 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Pine Hills and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Property taxes are high
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Tampa, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
21 upvotes
Gianna
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Denver about 7 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are growing, gas is tough.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Easton Wood
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 28, moved here 14 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Downtown and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The pet-friendliness situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for young professionals. improving 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 Nashville, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
20 upvotes
Jose Bailey
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 56, moved here 12 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Uptown and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The nightlife situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Dallas, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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.
18 upvotes
Madelyn G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 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 Riverside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Christian A.
good to know, thanks
10 upvotes
Madeline Walker
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Asian places. it exceeded my expectations.
9 upvotes
Madeline Diaz
Bought a house here in 2021 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
8 upvotes
Kimberly N.
I work in engineering here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is improving. No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Weston Ortiz
spot on
6 upvotes
Stella D.
I'm a sales manager and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
5 upvotes
la_nicholas
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. safety used to be much stable but now it's surprisingly good.
5 upvotes
Allison Ortiz
following this thread
5 upvotes
Dominic Lopez
Moved here from Minneapolis about 4 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to traffic but Happy to answer more specific questions..
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