Hi all, I'm single, late 40s, and Crime rate is something to consider -Normal sits at 276.3 per 100K. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $199,900, which is actually reasonable. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Would love some local perspective. The city has invested a lot in new development. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
3 upvotes
3 Replies
Vincent S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
40 upvotes
Jack Anderson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Ruby
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Dallas about 8 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are stable, gas is solid.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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