Hey everyone, I've been here for 1 years and Average temperature is around 55--F, so the weather is moderate. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Worth the trade-offs? Looking forward to hearing from you all.
11 upvotes
23 Replies
Chloe Watson
Bought a house here in 2022 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
39 upvotes
Grace Ramos
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much competitive but now it's pretty good.
39 upvotes
Julian E.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 3 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
39 upvotes
Alice
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 11 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Emma Foster
haha yep pretty much
36 upvotes
Michael White
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is dating scene. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
35 upvotes
Eleanor G.
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Oak Park area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Dominic Thompson
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to New York it's solid.
33 upvotes
Alice Gray
great question, following
33 upvotes
nyc_declan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 37, moved here 4 years ago from Miami. I've lived in South and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The housing market situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
30 upvotes
Eliana Mitchell
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
29 upvotes
Jonathan Thompson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Nicholas Sanders
I've lived in Riverside for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
- The school system scene is average
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Hope this helps!.
17 upvotes
Adrian Wright
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
17 upvotes
Benjamin James
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
Joshua Miller
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 surprisingly good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Eastside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
12 upvotes
David R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (North) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
12 upvotes
Ariana Cox
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
12 upvotes
Ian Thompson
I've lived in Old Town for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
- The traffic scene is average
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
8 upvotes
Jaxon K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 36, moved here 10 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Sunset and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for retirees. improving 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 Portland, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
8 upvotes
Bella Harris
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
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