Hi all, Been living here since 2024. Rent is about $2,043/month for a decent place. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Am I wrong here? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
6 upvotes
12 Replies
oaklandsoul2023
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much established but now it's tough.
37 upvotes
Scarlett M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is decent in most areas.
34 upvotes
Henry Anderson
Can confirm, been here 10 years.
34 upvotes
Asher Morris
I'm a lawyer and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
33 upvotes
Jace Myers
preach
33 upvotes
Nathan P.
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in North area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
31 upvotes
Lucy W.
Bought a house here in 2017 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
31 upvotes
Eli Morales
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 44, moved here 8 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Riverside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Can feel isolated
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for young professionals. decent vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Seattle, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
29 upvotes
Colton M.
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Rylee
interesting, hadn't considered that
5 upvotes
oaklandguy2024
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in North. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
2 upvotes
Grayson Morris
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much reasonable but now it's better than expected.
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