Anyone else feel this way? I'm retired and Average temperature is around 76--F, so it's warm year-round. Median household income is $52,900, which feels on the lower side for the area. Rent is about $1,662/month for a decent place. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Am I overthinking this? Thanks for reading. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
12 upvotes
6 Replies
Henry Wright
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
34 upvotes
Nora Price
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Denver it's surprisingly good.
23 upvotes
Hudson Rogers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Highland) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
23 upvotes
Claire Young
Saving this thread
20 upvotes
Melanie Hernandez
Bought a house here in 2023 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
6 upvotes
la_ella
Moved here from Raleigh about 5 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but Hope this helps!.
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