Longtime lurker here, I'm a teacher here and With a population of 59,408, Des Plaines is a smaller city. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Any advice would be great. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
12 upvotes
7 Replies
Everly Cox
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely challenging and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic 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.
36 upvotes
Logan D.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely underrated and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
30 upvotes
Mia R.
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. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Adam Hernandez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 5 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Harold R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely tough and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Eastside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
16 upvotes
Carson Sanchez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is improving in most areas.
15 upvotes
Jayden Brooks
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely decent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Westside) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
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