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Dylan Price
best-worst
Best neighborhoods in Lexington
Anyone in a similar situation? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
16 upvotes
10 Replies
Raymond M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 11 years ago. The main reasons were work and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is improving.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Hope this helps!.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 11 years ago. The main reasons were work and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is improving.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
Lucy M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Westside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Westside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
34 upvotes
Matthew
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 4 years. Moved from San Francisco for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are average. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Rising rent and home prices. Limited entertainment options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Oak Park for 4 years. Moved from San Francisco for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are average. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Rising rent and home prices. Limited entertainment options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Maya Patel
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
28 upvotes
Sebastian Wood
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The cost of living is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
19 upvotes
Silas Edwards
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely average and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely average and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
18 upvotes
Elizabeth Ward
Came here for family and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The walkability is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
18 upvotes
Melanie
Used to live on the North side, now on the Fairview side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
10 upvotes
Reagan Lopez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 4 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 4 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
Josiah
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
5 upvotes