Longtime lurker here, I've been here for 9 years and The median home value here is around $287,200, which seems about average. You can expect to pay around $1,418 for rent here. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Any advice would be great.
6 upvotes
28 Replies
Brooklyn Roberts
I've lived in Eastside for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- The dating scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Xavier Howard
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 53, moved here 5 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The dating scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. surprisingly 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 Nashville, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K 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.
37 upvotes
Emily Peterson
Moved here last year, no regrets.
36 upvotes
Ava S.
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The traffic is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
35 upvotes
Grace Young
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Denver about 3 years ago. The main reasons were work and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are pricey, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
34 upvotes
true_clara64
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 31, moved here 1 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Old Town and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Can feel isolated
3. The public transit situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Denver, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
29 upvotes
Kinsley S.
noted, appreciate it
28 upvotes
Aurora C.
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great craft beer places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
28 upvotes
Harper Flores
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 55, moved here 2 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Midtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The pet-friendliness situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
27 upvotes
Sebastian Roberts
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
26 upvotes
Vivian Howard
following this thread
26 upvotes
Kai Walker
wish I knew this sooner
25 upvotes
boston_aurora
underrated comment
25 upvotes
Zoe Thomas
I work in legal here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Feel free to reach out with questions..
22 upvotes
Josiah Sanchez
facts
21 upvotes
Eliana Clark
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Downtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in real estate. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
18 upvotes
chill_xavier2
great question, following
12 upvotes
Alice Bennett
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
Luca Phillips
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
10 upvotes
Karen R.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Korean places. it exceeded my expectations.
10 upvotes
Nicholas Jackson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 35, moved here 12 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Pine Hills and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Diverse dining options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for remote workers. improving 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 Charlotte, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K 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.
9 upvotes
Thomas C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Nashville about 8 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are stable, gas is solid.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Brielle Hill
I'm a lawyer and I've found I love the pace of life here. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
7 upvotes
Daniel
seconding this
7 upvotes
Nolan Kim
Bought a house here in 2019 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
7 upvotes
Lucy N.
lol so true
3 upvotes
Austin Lee
wish I knew this sooner
3 upvotes
Hudson Rodriguez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 47, moved here 11 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in North and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Property taxes are high
3. The dating scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for remote workers. excellent 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 Atlanta, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K 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.
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