Hey, We have two kids and It's a a small town city with about 22,295 people. The median home value here is around $561,700, which is pretty steep. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Am I overthinking this? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
12 upvotes
4 Replies
Julian R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
33 upvotes
liam_guy
I've lived in North for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The food scene scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Limited entertainment options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Michael Williams
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the Meadowbrook side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
15 upvotes
Sandra J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
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