Curious what people think. Median household income is $111,224, which feels pretty solid for the area. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Appreciate any input. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
9 upvotes
10 Replies
Paisley Miller
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
39 upvotes
Quinn Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 54, moved here 3 years ago from Boston. I've lived in The Heights and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - 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 public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for families. solid vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Boston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
38 upvotes
Allison Rivera
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
38 upvotes
Arianna Phillips
this is the way
35 upvotes
Wesley L.
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Southern places. it's been a really good experience overall.
30 upvotes
Skylar Rodriguez
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The safety is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Leonardo Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 46, moved here 3 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in The Heights and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for retirees. challenging 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 Tampa, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
23 upvotes
Wesley A.
I've lived in Oak Park for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The dating scene scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
William Bennett
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in The Heights. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in consulting. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Asian.
No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
Riley
I work in marketing here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
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