First post here. Military spouse here. Crime rate is something to consider -Oak Park sits at 242.8 per 100K. You can expect to pay around $1,354 for rent here. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Property taxes are high but you get good services. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Looking forward to hearing from you all. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development.
4 upvotes
29 Replies
Miles Castillo
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 5 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to cultural scene but Good luck with whatever you decide..
39 upvotes
Arianna
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the East side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
39 upvotes
Sarah M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 11 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
36 upvotes
Connor H.
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great seafood places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
32 upvotes
Madeline A.
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much competitive but now it's underrated.
31 upvotes
Robert E.
same here
30 upvotes
Hunter Robinson
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
30 upvotes
Asher King
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
jaxgirl2023
thanks for sharing
27 upvotes
Alexa
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
27 upvotes
Ariana Morris
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Naomi
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 8 years. Moved from Houston for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Pine Hills schools are average. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Far from beaches/mountains. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Madelyn Harris
facts
24 upvotes
Victoria Adams
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 2 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
20 upvotes
Benjamin C.
I work in retail here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is underrated. Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Adam C.
glad someone said it
20 upvotes
Emma M.
I'm a electrician and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is average and there's always something going on.
20 upvotes
Parker G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Westside. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in tech. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Hope this helps!.
20 upvotes
theodore_dude
+1
17 upvotes
Levi King
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Jonathan C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 10 years. Moved from Phoenix for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. tech 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. Springfield 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. Nightlife is limited. Limited high-paying job options. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Delilah Lopez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from Dallas for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same 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:**
marketing is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. West 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Dating scene is rough. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
6 upvotes
minneapolis_isaac
I've lived in The Heights for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good internet infrastructure
- The safety scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
5 upvotes
Aaron Campbell
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is solid in most areas.
5 upvotes
Samuel Castillo
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Phoenix it's improving.
4 upvotes
Aubrey Rogers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Southern.
No regrets on my end..
4 upvotes
Michael Jackson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
Connor Williams
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
1 upvotes
Frances C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Baltimore about 6 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Active local events and festivals
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Good luck with whatever you decide..
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