Random thought, I relocated for work and Rent is about $794/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $192,600, which is actually reasonable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Am I wrong here? The food scene here is surprisingly good.
2 upvotes
30 Replies
Sophie Gonzalez
Saving this thread
39 upvotes
Brooklyn C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
38 upvotes
Aubrey Long
+1
37 upvotes
Scarlett
Moved here from Austin about 2 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to job market but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Bradley P.
yep
32 upvotes
Kai Mendoza
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 27, moved here 13 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Pine Hills and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The outdoor recreation situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Phoenix, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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
Sarah Ruiz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 2 years. Moved from San Diego for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Nightlife is limited. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
26 upvotes
Camila S.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Seattle about 10 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is average.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
25 upvotes
Ruby Wood
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 40, moved here 1 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for retirees. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 LA, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K 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.
25 upvotes
Donald C.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Aurora P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 15 years. Moved from Charlotte for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is tough - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Rising rent and home prices. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Madeline Campbell
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 7 years. Moved from Raleigh for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Winters are long and cold. Road conditions need improvement. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Clara Patel
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Evelyn T.
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
19 upvotes
happy_zoey99
Moved here from Atlanta about 9 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to traffic but Happy to answer more specific questions..
19 upvotes
Paisley Collins
good to know, thanks
19 upvotes
Nevaeh King
been saying this for years
16 upvotes
milwaukee_nevaeh
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Definitely worth checking out..
13 upvotes
Jameson King
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Chicago it's tough.
11 upvotes
Wesley White
seconding this
10 upvotes
Robert Moore
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 3 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Quinn Perez
accurate
9 upvotes
Bella E.
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great seafood places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
9 upvotes
Amelia Baker
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
7 upvotes
Kai Wilson
Can confirm, been here 13 years.
6 upvotes
Austin W.
as a local I can confirm
6 upvotes
Lydia J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
Nora Long
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
Nevaeh Campbell
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
1 upvotes
Andrew D.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 4 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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