The unemployment rate is 2.4%, which is pretty low. Average temperature is around 59--F, so the weather is moderate. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
22 upvotes
6 Replies
Leah Morris
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 10 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Joshua Evans
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely average and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Eastside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene 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.
25 upvotes
Nolan Torres
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
24 upvotes
Reagan Rivera
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Definitely worth checking out..
22 upvotes
Aurora T.
yep
17 upvotes
Miles C.
Bought a house here in 2024 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
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