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Thomas Cooper
moving
Just moved to Hickory Hills, any tips?
Hello, Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
8 upvotes
13 Replies
Aurora Adams
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Oak Park area are underrated. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Waylon Reyes
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
38 upvotes
Luca Watson
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
Adam M.
I've lived in Uptown for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- The nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- The nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
37 upvotes
Jack W.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
33 upvotes
Lydia Ramos
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 43, moved here 7 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Highland and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Nashville, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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 software engineer, 43, moved here 7 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Highland and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Nashville, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
33 upvotes
cincy_aaliyah
I'm a marketing manager and I've found I love the pace of life here. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
32 upvotes
Julian Edwards
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 31, moved here 10 years ago from Denver. I've lived in East and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cultural scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Denver, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K 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 marketing manager, 31, moved here 10 years ago from Denver. I've lived in East and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cultural scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Denver, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K 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.
28 upvotes
Addison Myers
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
23 upvotes
Victoria P.
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Southern places. it exceeded my expectations.
23 upvotes
Mackenzie Ortiz
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Pittsburgh it's excellent.
22 upvotes
Robert Anderson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 8 years. Moved from Charlotte for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are underrated. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in East for 8 years. Moved from Charlotte for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are underrated. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
oakland_jose
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
15 upvotes