Hi all, Been living here since 2013. Homes are going for about $604,800 on average. Poverty rate is 2.5%, which is pretty low. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Looking forward to hearing from you all. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
0 upvotes
17 Replies
Waylon James
this is the way
40 upvotes
Emily R.
wish I knew this sooner
38 upvotes
jaxon_life
haha yep pretty much
37 upvotes
Ava Lopez
preach
30 upvotes
Jose Price
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
29 upvotes
Hailey D.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is solid in most areas.
22 upvotes
Adam J.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
21 upvotes
Nova
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely average and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (West) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Homeless population growing downtown.
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.
16 upvotes
Cooper
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
16 upvotes
Jordan M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Oak Park. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in government. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
15 upvotes
Violet Rogers
exactly what I was thinking
15 upvotes
Savannah R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 27, moved here 11 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Old Town and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The nightlife situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 growing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
14 upvotes
Hudson Gonzalez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
14 upvotes
levi_mind
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great craft beer places. it exceeded my expectations.
13 upvotes
oaklandgirl2021
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
13 upvotes
Grayson Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 47, moved here 12 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Uptown and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Property taxes are high
3. The walkability situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for remote workers. excellent vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Miami, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K 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.
All Countries
