My family moved here when I was a kid. The median home value here is around $453,300, which is pretty steep. It's a a mid-size city city with about 123K people. The weather takes some getting used to. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Would love some local perspective.
50 upvotes
12 Replies
Jose Peterson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
40 upvotes
Valentina Wood
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
39 upvotes
Jaxon
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
39 upvotes
Katherine Moore
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 26, moved here 9 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Sunset and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Boston, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K 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.
37 upvotes
Matthew Martinez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 5 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Nicholas Jones
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
21 upvotes
Hunter Brown
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
20 upvotes
Grayson Lewis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 43, moved here 1 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Springfield and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The public transit situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Austin, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K 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.
19 upvotes
Riley Miller
I work in tech here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is better than expected. Happy to answer more specific questions..
18 upvotes
Benjamin M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
16 upvotes
Piper Torres
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The pet-friendliness is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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