Not sure if this has been asked before, but Poverty rate is 6.4%, which is pretty low. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
7 upvotes
11 Replies
happy_quinn28
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Mediterranean places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
40 upvotes
James R.
lol so true
33 upvotes
Grace Peterson
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The public transit is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
28 upvotes
Axel Gutierrez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 12 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Henry Ross
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The safety is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
24 upvotes
Jace Hall
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
22 upvotes
Dylan Brooks
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Charlotte it's tough.
14 upvotes
Aria Cruz
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely tough and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (West) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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
Bobby A.
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The traffic is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Caroline
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
Kimberly M.
I work in real estate here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is decent. Hope this helps!.
All Countries
