So, Military spouse here. The median home value here is around $343,400, which seems about average. Median household income is $108,342, which feels pretty solid for the area. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The suburbs are where most families end up. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
26 upvotes
27 Replies
Lydia Roberts
yeah no that's not right
40 upvotes
Adrian
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
38 upvotes
Everett Richardson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is tough in most areas.
34 upvotes
Aaron Reed
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 25, moved here 12 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Highland and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Can feel isolated
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for families. underrated 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 Phoenix, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
33 upvotes
Isaiah Hall
not my experience at all
31 upvotes
James Flores
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
30 upvotes
kennedy_mind
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
29 upvotes
Ian Clark
underrated comment
29 upvotes
Hudson Brooks
Totally agree!
25 upvotes
Oliver Martin
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 14 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Eliana Wright
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 3 years. Moved from Houston for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Oak Park schools are excellent. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Homeless population growing downtown. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Mackenzie Jones
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
19 upvotes
Andrew
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
16 upvotes
Isabella Collins
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
15 upvotes
Piper
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The community vibe is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
14 upvotes
Wyatt Ramos
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
14 upvotes
Sarah C.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Highland) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
13 upvotes
chicago_everett
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 14 years. Moved from Houston for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth about the same 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:**
government is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - 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. Uptown 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. Property taxes are high. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
11 upvotes
Hailey Green
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 12 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Josiah
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
10 upvotes
Cooper H.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 12 years. Moved from Nashville for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is solid - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Meadowbrook schools are tough. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Limited shopping options. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
John J.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
6 upvotes
Daniel Watson
Used to live on the Cedar Grove side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
5 upvotes
Daniel Hill
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Mason Garcia
exactly what I was thinking
5 upvotes
Sofia Bennett
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
1 upvotes
Nova Myers
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 4 years. Moved from Portland for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. education 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 wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Highland schools are decent. 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 high-paying job options. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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