First post here. Rent is about $1,536/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $315,100, which seems about average. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. What do you all think? Any help is appreciated. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
16 upvotes
26 Replies
Scarlett Myers
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
39 upvotes
Daniel Diaz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 40, moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in The Heights and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 San Francisco, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
37 upvotes
Carolyn E.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely solid and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Springfield) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
36 upvotes
Arianna P.
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 15 years. Moved from San Diego for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. manufacturing 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 exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is solid - we have ski resorts 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 challenging. 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 housing market 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.
34 upvotes
Hailey Thomas
not my experience at all
30 upvotes
Waylon Williams
hmm interesting perspective
29 upvotes
Allison Williams
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 7 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
26 upvotes
Harper N.
interesting, hadn't considered that
26 upvotes
Everett Rivera
I've lived in Springfield for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good healthcare facilities
- The housing market scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Nightlife is limited
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
25 upvotes
Angel M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 7 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Caleb C.
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The healthcare is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
19 upvotes
Ariana Roberts
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
18 upvotes
Allison Ross
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
11 upvotes
Emilia C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Highland. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
David Martinez
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much reasonable but now it's excellent.
8 upvotes
Aurora Clark
bump
8 upvotes
lake_benjamin34
couldn't agree more
7 upvotes
Vivian Diaz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 10 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is tough - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland schools are better than expected. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Hunter Morgan
yeah no that's not right
5 upvotes
Maya Nguyen
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
5 upvotes
Aubrey Long
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much established but now it's decent.
5 upvotes
Ezekiel Nelson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 28, moved here 12 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Oak Park and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The food scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Austin, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K 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.
2 upvotes
Christopher G.
This.
2 upvotes
Piper A.
Bought a house here in 2021 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
1 upvotes
Elizabeth C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
0 upvotes
indywalker2020
I work in manufacturing here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is challenging. Definitely worth checking out..
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