Born and raised here. The median home value here is around $302,500, which seems about average. Homes are going for about $302,500 on average. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What do you all think? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
26 upvotes
7 Replies
Austin Kim
great question, following
32 upvotes
Lauren T.
+1
30 upvotes
Silas Brooks
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is dating scene. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Hailey Harris
+1
25 upvotes
Jonathan B.
interesting, hadn't considered that
25 upvotes
Eliana G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
15 upvotes
Jessica K.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely average and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Westside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
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