Been meaning to ask this. I'm a college student here and You can expect to pay around $1,417 for rent here. It's a a smaller city city with about 27,902 people. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this?
10 upvotes
14 Replies
Kai
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 28, moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Eastside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Property taxes are high
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for families. better than expected 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 Baltimore, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K 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.
36 upvotes
Luca Lopez
not my experience at all
32 upvotes
Willow J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
30 upvotes
Nora Castillo
great question, following
30 upvotes
Scarlett Howard
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
29 upvotes
Audrey Price
exactly what I was thinking
29 upvotes
aubrey_mind
bump
25 upvotes
Ryan Y.
I've lived in Oak Park for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
- The cultural scene scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
24 upvotes
Easton
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Fairview area are solid. Kids love it here.
22 upvotes
Zoey Rivera
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in The Heights. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in construction. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
19 upvotes
Hailey Howard
+1
19 upvotes
Leo Ramos
haha yep pretty much
14 upvotes
Autumn Torres
Can confirm, been here 4 years.
4 upvotes
Jacob King
I'm a writer and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is average and there's always something going on.
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