Hey folks, With a population of 45,538, Elmhurst is a smaller city. Homes are going for about $532,800 on average. Rent is about $1,877/month for a decent place. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Property taxes are high but you get good services. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
Pros:
- Diverse community
- Plenty of shopping options
- Active local events
- Good airport connections
Cons:
- High property taxes
- Few job opportunities in some fields
- Far from major airports
- Homelessness issues downtown
- Not enough green space
Thoughts? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
27 upvotes
23 Replies
Anna G.
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Old Town area are solid. Kids love it here.
39 upvotes
Carter Roberts
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
37 upvotes
Charlotte Moore
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
Xavier
I've lived in Lakewood for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
- The nightlife scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Definitely worth checking out..
36 upvotes
Avery Harris
honestly same experience here
35 upvotes
Daniel Brown
yep
29 upvotes
Sebastian Robinson
wish I knew this sooner
28 upvotes
Easton Gonzalez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely better than expected and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Fairview) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit 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.
26 upvotes
Jace D.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely excellent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Downtown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability 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.
24 upvotes
Julia Ortiz
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in Cedar Grove area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
Aiden Brooks
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Seattle it's underrated.
22 upvotes
Audrey L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 4 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
22 upvotes
Jaxon Hernandez
glad someone said it
21 upvotes
Thomas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in legal. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
19 upvotes
Matthew White
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..
18 upvotes
Alice H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Miami 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 Westside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Maverick Johnson
underrated comment
17 upvotes
Isabelle Reyes
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The cultural scene is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
16 upvotes
Scott C.
lol so true
10 upvotes
Emma J.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
Piper
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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