Hello, Crime rate is something to consider -Gurnee sits at 131.2 per 100K. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Has anyone dealt with this? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
12 upvotes
14 Replies
Levi Rivera
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in construction. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
39 upvotes
Leonardo Gutierrez
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Asian places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
39 upvotes
Thomas Perez
it depends on the neighborhood
35 upvotes
mountain_hunter72
interesting, hadn't considered that
35 upvotes
Jaxon Long
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Santiago Price
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in tech. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
coastal_hunter15
I've lived in Downtown for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Decent public transit for the size
- The pet-friendliness scene is improving
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Winters are long and cold
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Julian Ward
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Thai places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
17 upvotes
Austin Johnson
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
15 upvotes
Aubrey Patel
Bought a house here in 2017 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
15 upvotes
Eli Nguyen
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in West area are solid. Kids love it here.
11 upvotes
Silas Green
interesting, hadn't considered that
8 upvotes
Bella Anderson
I've lived in Oak Park for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good airport with direct flights
- The healthcare scene is decent
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
5 upvotes
Everett Morris
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely better than expected and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Riverside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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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