Random thought, The median home value here is around $504,100, which is pretty steep. Poverty rate is 3.0%, which is pretty low. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Would love some local perspective. Thanks in advance! It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
20 upvotes
9 Replies
Zoey
hard disagree but ok
35 upvotes
Charles P.
as a local I can confirm
34 upvotes
Austin A.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 30, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Downtown and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
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. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K 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.
33 upvotes
Emma
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely excellent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
29 upvotes
Bella
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely solid and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Uptown) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare 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.
21 upvotes
Oliver Miller
I've lived in Oak Park for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Close to major attractions
- The school system scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
17 upvotes
Brooklyn S.
Totally agree!
16 upvotes
Benjamin Ruiz
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
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