Raising a family in Magna metro township -thoughts?
Median household income is $87,516, which feels pretty solid for the area. The weather takes some getting used to. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Worth the trade-offs? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
10 upvotes
11 Replies
Stella Adams
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 2 years. Moved from Miami for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are pretty good. 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. Winters are long and cold. Homeless population growing downtown. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Camila H.
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 12 years. Moved from San Diego for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. construction 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have rivers 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 excellent. 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. Winters are long and cold. Chain restaurants dominate. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Nora Gonzalez
Saving this thread
29 upvotes
Mateo Morales
great question, following
27 upvotes
Amy R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Midtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in finance. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Sebastian W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
23 upvotes
Victoria Howard
I work in construction here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is better than expected. No regrets on my end..
20 upvotes
Hailey M.
honestly same experience here
16 upvotes
Rylee
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
12 upvotes
Roman Reyes
not my experience at all
7 upvotes
Asher Rodriguez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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