Anyone else feel this way? Homes are going for about $109,500 on average. With a population of 9,471, LaSalle is a small town. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Let me know your thoughts. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The weather takes some getting used to. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The suburbs are where most families end up.
2 upvotes
15 Replies
Everett Taylor
following this thread
39 upvotes
Daniel Martinez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
37 upvotes
omahapapa2020
Bought a house here in 2015 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
36 upvotes
Robert Gonzalez
Bought a house here in 2018 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
35 upvotes
Violet Ward
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 45, moved here 9 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in South and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The walkability situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
28 upvotes
Nathan Williams
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 8 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
28 upvotes
Declan M.
I've lived in Fairview for about 12 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 Portland, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- The nightlife scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Zoe Ruiz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 56, moved here 3 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in East and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
27 upvotes
Isaiah Martin
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Indian places. it was the best decision I ever made.
26 upvotes
Gabriella
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 4 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
19 upvotes
Autumn
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck with whatever you decide..
16 upvotes
Serenity E.
underrated comment
15 upvotes
Axel Moore
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much stable but now it's surprisingly good.
12 upvotes
Isaiah
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
2 upvotes
Harper S.
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is walkability. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
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