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Harold C.
moving
Considering Carol Stream vs Cleveland -help me decide
Alright, My family moved here when I was a kid. Is this normal for Carol Stream?
29 upvotes
17 Replies
Adam C.
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. Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
Eleanor Parker
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to San Francisco it's decent.
37 upvotes
Ryan Edwards
facts
37 upvotes
Stephen T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Westside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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 traffic, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Westside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
36 upvotes
Miles A.
same here
32 upvotes
Axel James
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Hope this helps!.
31 upvotes
Angel L.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Salt Lake City it's underrated.
30 upvotes
Andrew Castillo
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much manageable but now it's average.
20 upvotes
Kimberly N.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
Santiago Campbell
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from San Francisco about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is solid.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I'm a writer who relocated here from San Francisco about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is solid.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
Aubrey Morgan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 30, moved here 7 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Eastside and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The pet-friendliness situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Atlanta, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K 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.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 30, moved here 7 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Eastside and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The pet-friendliness situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Atlanta, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K 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.
9 upvotes
Emma W.
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
9 upvotes
Elizabeth Martin
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Abigail
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely solid and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (The Heights) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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 cultural scene, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely solid and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (The Heights) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
6 upvotes
omahalover2024
I've lived in Springfield for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The community vibe scene is decent
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The community vibe scene is decent
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
6 upvotes
Hailey Peterson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 5 years. Moved from Tampa for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2018 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. retail 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 better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Eastside for 5 years. Moved from Tampa for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2018 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. retail 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 better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
4 upvotes
Eli Gonzalez
exactly what I was thinking
1 upvotes