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Oliver Price
jobs
Is Grand Rapids good for remote workers?
My partner and I are Poverty rate is 12.8%, which is around average. What would you do?
1 upvotes
11 Replies
Waylon B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 57, moved here 5 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Downtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The cost of living situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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 real estate agent, 57, moved here 5 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Downtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The cost of living situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
38 upvotes
Austin Ward
+1
36 upvotes
Sophia James
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 15 years. Moved from San Francisco for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. education 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:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have hiking trails 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 challenging. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Limited shopping options. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Oak Park for 15 years. Moved from San Francisco for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. education 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:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have hiking trails 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 challenging. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Limited shopping options. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Catherine E.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
35 upvotes
Greyson W.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
33 upvotes
Cooper
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Riverside area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
30 upvotes
Brielle
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
27 upvotes
minneapolispapa2020
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
27 upvotes
born_amelia54
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Uptown) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Uptown) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
27 upvotes
Robert Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 55, moved here 10 years ago from LA. I've lived in Downtown and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Strong sense of community
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. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The community vibe situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 LA, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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 pharmacist, 55, moved here 10 years ago from LA. I've lived in Downtown and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Strong sense of community
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. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The community vibe situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 LA, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
17 upvotes
Kinsley Alvarez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Atlanta about 13 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is improving.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. No regrets on my end..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Atlanta about 13 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is improving.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. No regrets on my end..
4 upvotes