OK so You can expect to pay around $1,412 for rent here. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Am I wrong here? The suburbs are where most families end up. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
52 upvotes
42 Replies
Piper H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Fairview. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Definitely worth checking out..
40 upvotes
Aaron Cox
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Cedar Grove area are solid. Kids love it here.
39 upvotes
Samuel Garcia
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 3 years. Moved from Austin for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are underrated. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Property taxes are high. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Eli Howard
hmm interesting perspective
37 upvotes
Nova King
thanks for sharing
37 upvotes
Austin
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Weston Jones
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Chloe S.
couldn't agree more
34 upvotes
Olivia Cruz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 1 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is decent - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are better than expected. 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. Limited public transit options. Homeless population growing downtown. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Miles
Can confirm, been here 3 years.
34 upvotes
Sophia Long
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Old Town) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Bugs and humidity in summer.
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.
33 upvotes
Piper Sanchez
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Nova Long
lol so true
32 upvotes
Alexa
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 1 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
31 upvotes
Leo Cook
been saying this for years
31 upvotes
Michael W.
I've lived in North for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The weather scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Hope this helps!.
29 upvotes
Kaylee R.
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
29 upvotes
Luke A.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 13 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
true_nevaeh8
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
Theresa N.
This.
25 upvotes
Joseph D.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 3 years ago. The main reasons were weather and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are affordable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Definitely worth checking out..
25 upvotes
Scarlett R.
not my experience at all
24 upvotes
denver_violet
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
Austin Lewis
big facts right here
19 upvotes
Abigail Richardson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 14 years. Moved from Portland for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are average. 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. Nightlife is limited. Far from beaches/mountains. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Madelyn Hughes
as a local I can confirm
19 upvotes
Jacob Green
Used to live on the East side, now on the Fairview side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
18 upvotes
Avery Reyes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 9 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Gabriella Hall
yep
17 upvotes
Harper Harris
as a local I can confirm
14 upvotes
Lydia F.
great question, following
12 upvotes
Jose Hernandez
wish I knew this sooner
12 upvotes
benjamin_runner
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
10 upvotes
Hunter Anderson
nah I disagree
8 upvotes
Miles
+1
6 upvotes
Evelyn R.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to LA it's excellent.
6 upvotes
Ian Alvarez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
6 upvotes
sofia_soul
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 49, moved here 10 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Old Town and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K 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.
5 upvotes
Luca Roberts
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 40, moved here 11 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Eastside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Affordable housing options
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The job market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$110K 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.
5 upvotes
Reagan
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
All Countries
