So, Poverty rate is 7.5%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,122/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $251,600, which seems about average. Homes are going for about $251,600 on average. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
4 upvotes
27 Replies
Kai Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 41, moved here 1 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Oak Park and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Austin, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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
Nathan C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 40, moved here 8 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Springfield and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The nightlife situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for families. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$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.
40 upvotes
Jose Wright
been saying this for years
36 upvotes
Lucy Sanchez
yeah no that's not right
36 upvotes
Luca Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Riverside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in tech. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
36 upvotes
Connor Williams
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 34, moved here 10 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is manageable. 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.
34 upvotes
Peyton Foster
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
31 upvotes
Aiden R.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
30 upvotes
Jeremiah Martin
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 38, moved here 10 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Eastside and The Heights, 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. 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. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for singles. underrated 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 Chicago, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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
Nevaeh M.
bump
25 upvotes
Olivia Mendoza
accurate
22 upvotes
Julian Edwards
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 27, moved here 4 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in West and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Good airport with direct flights
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. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Can feel isolated
3. The food scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for retirees. challenging vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
22 upvotes
Leo Reed
been saying this for years
19 upvotes
Julian Jackson
good to know, thanks
16 upvotes
Isaiah Thomas
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely average and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife 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.
15 upvotes
Alan T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely pretty good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene 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.
14 upvotes
Skylar Kim
yeah no that's not right
14 upvotes
Zoey Cooper
I work in tech here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
14 upvotes
Elena Roberts
100%
11 upvotes
Jace Turner
hard disagree but ok
9 upvotes
Leonardo Lee
hard disagree but ok
9 upvotes
Brielle M.
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The housing market is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Avery Diaz
not my experience at all
7 upvotes
Olivia Bailey
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much developing but now it's hit or miss.
6 upvotes
Elijah Williams
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
5 upvotes
Isla L.
Used to live on the South side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
2 upvotes
Nolan H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in consulting. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
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