Hello, Average temperature is around 50--F, so expect cold winters. It's a a smaller city city with about 27,924 people. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What would you do? Looking forward to hearing from you all.
4 upvotes
7 Replies
Ian H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 45, moved here 5 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Highland and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The pet-friendliness situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 San Francisco, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
40 upvotes
Delilah R.
couldn't agree more
39 upvotes
Hudson Rodriguez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 49, moved here 12 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Sunset and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Four distinct seasons
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. Winters are long and cold
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The weather situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 San Diego, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K 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.
26 upvotes
Eliana D.
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Korean places. the quality of life is solid.
25 upvotes
Rylee Clark
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from New York about 1 years ago. The main reasons were school and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is underrated.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
22 upvotes
Lily Hall
hard disagree but ok
11 upvotes
Nova Ward
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
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