Curious what people think. We're a young couple and Crime rate is something to consider -Ellsworth sits at 74.2 per 100K. Rent is about $955/month for a decent place. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The city has invested a lot in new development. Would love some local perspective. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
10 upvotes
12 Replies
Natalie T.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Definitely worth checking out..
34 upvotes
Genesis R.
preach
31 upvotes
Claire W.
great question, following
30 upvotes
sf_jack
great question, following
28 upvotes
dc_christian
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from San Francisco about 1 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are manageable, gas is tough.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Bella Chavez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely underrated and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
22 upvotes
Ella H.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
21 upvotes
ian_native
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much wild but now it's challenging.
20 upvotes
Eliana Perez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Diego 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 Lakewood. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Avery Morris
following this thread
5 upvotes
Harold M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 8 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. 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 excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
0 upvotes
Leo Wright
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is community vibe. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
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