Hi all, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Rent is about $1,104/month for a decent place. Poverty rate is 14.2%, which is around average. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Worth the trade-offs?
10 upvotes
7 Replies
Waylon Morales
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
Jaxon Evans
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Thai places. the quality of life is solid.
37 upvotes
Theresa B.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much developing but now it's pretty good.
36 upvotes
Piper D.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Seattle about 14 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Summers can be brutally hot
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is solid.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
32 upvotes
Isabella Edwards
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Sunset side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
29 upvotes
Quinn
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 52, moved here 14 years ago from LA. I've lived in Oak Park and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The walkability situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. decent vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 LA, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
18 upvotes
Camila Gonzalez
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
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