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Adrian Lee housing

Affordable areas near Fairmount?

Random thought, My partner and I are You can expect to pay around $2,505 for rent here. It's a a small town city with about 10,521 people. Household incomes average around $163,785 in Fairmount. Crime rate is something to consider -Fairmount sits at 149.6 per 100K. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.

Pros:
- Affordable cost of living
- Good job market
- Nice parks and trails
- Growing food scene

Cons:
- Limited public transit
- Cold winters
- High property taxes
The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The weather takes some getting used to. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
2 upvotes

2 Replies

Theodore J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's tough for what you get.

Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.

People: Generally challenging. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Asian.

Good luck with whatever you decide..
36 upvotes
Addison S.
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 11 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. 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 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.

**Employment:**
government is strong here. tech 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 was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is decent - we have lakes 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 challenging. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Homeless population growing downtown. And public transit can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
23 upvotes
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