Alright, My family moved here when I was a kid. Household incomes average around $107,608 in Mundelein. You can expect to pay around $1,564 for rent here. The median home value here is around $285,600, which seems about average. Crime rate is something to consider -Mundelein sits at 73.6 per 100K. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
21 upvotes
24 Replies
Elizabeth
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Raleigh about 9 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
jose_vibes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 12 years. Moved from Boston for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are decent. 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. Limited public transit options. Road conditions need improvement. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Grace Kim
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 8 years. Moved from Houston for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is average - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Summers can be brutally hot. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Jose C.
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The job market is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
36 upvotes
Autumn Martin
Bought a house here in 2020 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
35 upvotes
nyc_piper
wish I knew this sooner
34 upvotes
Hannah Hughes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 15 years. Moved from New York for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly 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:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is average - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset 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. Limited shopping options. Homeless population growing downtown. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Madelyn
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely excellent and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Highland) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
31 upvotes
Reagan M.
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
31 upvotes
Everly H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in The Heights. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in government. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
indy_carson
couldn't agree more
27 upvotes
Eliana D.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 51, moved here 8 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Downtown and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The dating scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
25 upvotes
Axel R.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Aaron T.
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
18 upvotes
Eliana Smith
I'm a chef and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
16 upvotes
Eva Clark
couldn't agree more
15 upvotes
Emily Clark
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Southern places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
12 upvotes
Autumn Brown
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely solid and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
11 upvotes
austin_noah
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Greenfield area are average. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Charlotte Reed
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
8 upvotes
Noah James
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
7 upvotes
chicagonative2024
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Atlanta about 13 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are wild, gas is tough.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Leonardo Ramirez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
0 upvotes
Lillian R.
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
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