Been meaning to ask this. I work in legal and Homes are going for about $194,400 on average. Median household income is $67,179, which feels about average for the area. The unemployment rate is 2.4%, which is pretty low. It's a a smaller city city with about 27,321 people. Poverty rate is 7.1%, which is pretty low. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
Pros:
- Affordable cost of living
- Low crime in most areas
- Good airport connections
Cons:
- Rising rent prices
- Boring for young people
- Limited cultural events
- Chain restaurants dominate
Thanks in advance! Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The city has invested a lot in new development. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
29 upvotes
30 Replies
Sophia
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great craft beer places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
39 upvotes
Michael M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
39 upvotes
Ellie Brooks
Bought a house here in 2016 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
36 upvotes
Isabelle Chavez
I've lived in Midtown for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
- The nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
36 upvotes
Quinn Miller
Bought a house here in 2024 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
32 upvotes
Daniel Howard
yep
31 upvotes
Scott J.
I've lived in West for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Active local events and festivals
- The weather scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
Joseph S.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The community vibe is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Jacob Campbell
great question, following
28 upvotes
Willow Price
noted, appreciate it
26 upvotes
Mason J.
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
26 upvotes
Brielle Hill
Moved here from Chicago about 8 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to cultural scene but Good luck with whatever you decide..
25 upvotes
Ann R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 44, moved here 1 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Sunset and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The traffic situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for families. solid vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Dallas, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
24 upvotes
alice_mind
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is underrated in most areas.
24 upvotes
Linda P.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
21 upvotes
Leo Morris
Came here for retirement and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The cost of living is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
21 upvotes
Eric P.
This.
19 upvotes
Eleanor C.
seconding this
16 upvotes
Levi Reyes
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
13 upvotes
Alice
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 29, moved here 5 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
12 upvotes
Autumn Scott
haha yep pretty much
11 upvotes
Isaac Clark
I've lived in Fairview for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Affordable housing options
- The safety scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Hope this helps!.
10 upvotes
Melanie Rivera
following this thread
9 upvotes
Serenity Gomez
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Amelia Diaz
couldn't agree more
6 upvotes
proud_jace35
following this thread
6 upvotes
Ruby Reed
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much competitive but now it's solid.
1 upvotes
Connor Cruz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Baltimore about 8 years ago. The main reasons were work and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is decent.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth checking out..
1 upvotes
Avery
I'm a nurse and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
0 upvotes
Riley O.
I'm a social worker and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
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