Hey folks, Homes are going for about $133,600 on average. Crime rate is something to consider -Calumet City sits at 514.8 per 100K. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
2 upvotes
26 Replies
real_ella23
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Isabella Hughes
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
39 upvotes
Luna F.
thanks for sharing
38 upvotes
Claire
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 39, moved here 1 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Midtown and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Chicago, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K 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.
38 upvotes
raleigh_jeremiah
not my experience at all
38 upvotes
Greyson Thompson
I work in retail here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is average. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
37 upvotes
Donna M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 38, moved here 5 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Old Town and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. hit or miss 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
32 upvotes
Arianna A.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
29 upvotes
Elena Perez
I've lived in Oak Park for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Affordable housing options
- The weather scene is decent
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Happy to answer more specific questions..
23 upvotes
Matthew R.
hard disagree but ok
21 upvotes
Claire Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 45, moved here 1 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in South and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The safety situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for families. improving vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Seattle, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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
Madelyn King
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from LA 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 Sunset. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in consulting. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Violet S.
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
17 upvotes
Cooper Richardson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
Donna J.
good to know, thanks
14 upvotes
Silas J.
preach
14 upvotes
Nora Nguyen
been saying this for years
13 upvotes
Piper B.
literally same
12 upvotes
Aurora Robinson
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much pricey but now it's challenging.
12 upvotes
Luke J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in legal. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
11 upvotes
Emmett Torres
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 26, moved here 7 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Eastside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The pet-friendliness situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for young professionals. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Miami, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
10 upvotes
Elena Alvarez
100%
9 upvotes
Scott P.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely average and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Downtown) is reasonable 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 Nightlife is limited.
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.
8 upvotes
Jeremiah Scott
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor recreation is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
6 upvotes
Adrian P.
Bought a house here in 2017 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone about the same since then.
6 upvotes
Emily Rodriguez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Miami it's tough.
All Countries
