Anyone else feel this way? With a population of 114K, Elgin is a mid-size city. Median household income is $88,316, which feels pretty solid for the area. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Should I be concerned? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development.
15 upvotes
3 Replies
Kayden H.
lol so true
18 upvotes
kaylee_lover
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in education. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
12 upvotes
mesadude2024
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely average and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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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