I'm originally from Miami and It's a a small town city with about 5,240 people. You can expect to pay around $793 for rent here. The median home value here is around $111,700, which is actually reasonable. Household incomes average around $57,534 in Gladstone. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. What do you all think? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
9 upvotes
5 Replies
Allison King
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 13 years. Moved from Baltimore for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. legal 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:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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 pretty good. 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. Limited shopping options. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Michael R.
spot on
27 upvotes
Olivia Kim
seconding this
24 upvotes
Violet R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Maple Ridge. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
23 upvotes
Nevaeh Perez
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
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