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Ian Brooks
housing
Is it worth buying in Fox Lake?
Alright, Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Thoughts? Property taxes are high but you get good services.
13 upvotes
13 Replies
Luke Baker
+1
38 upvotes
Isabelle Scott
I work in education here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is tough. Definitely worth checking out..
36 upvotes
Daniel D.
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Oak Park area are challenging. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Oliver Adams
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The housing market is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Adeline Sanders
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Addison Jackson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Asian.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Asian.
No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
Sophia
+1
30 upvotes
Gabriel A.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 41, moved here 5 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in West and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cultural scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. better than expected 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 San Francisco, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 41, moved here 5 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in West and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cultural scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. better than expected 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 San Francisco, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
29 upvotes
orlando_gabriella
underrated comment
23 upvotes
oakland_carson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
Oliver
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.
11 upvotes
cincy_andrew
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 15 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 15 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Santiago Bennett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 48, moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Pine Hills and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The healthcare situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
Background: I'm a social worker, 48, moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Pine Hills and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The healthcare situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
7 upvotes