Hello, I've been here for 18 years and The median home value here is around $189,700, which is actually reasonable. Poverty rate is 24.0%, which is higher than I expected. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
0 upvotes
13 Replies
Nathan Smith
big facts right here
39 upvotes
Joshua Scott
I'm a chef and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
33 upvotes
Ezekiel G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in tech. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Thai.
No regrets on my end..
31 upvotes
isaiah_living
same here
31 upvotes
Nicholas Rivera
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Mexican places. the quality of life is solid.
27 upvotes
Peyton Green
haha yep pretty much
23 upvotes
Elizabeth Hughes
Moved here from Boston about 10 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to cost of living but Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Gabriella Kim
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is safety. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
19 upvotes
Patricia S.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
17 upvotes
coastal_hunter15
following this thread
11 upvotes
Eleanor G.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Salt Lake City it's better than expected.
7 upvotes
Lillian Baker
as a local I can confirm
5 upvotes
Alexa
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 14 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into running, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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