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moving
Is Des Plaines worth moving to in 2026?
Been meaning to ask this. My partner and I are Any advice would be great.
4 upvotes
3 Replies
Cora Wilson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 54, moved here 9 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Westside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. average vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K 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.
Background: I'm a electrician, 54, moved here 9 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Westside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. average vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K 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.
19 upvotes
David Martin
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The community vibe is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Autumn
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Definitely worth checking out..
9 upvotes