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Mia
living
Raising a family in O'Fallon -thoughts?
Alright, We have two kids and The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
4 upvotes
12 Replies
Jace Hughes
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in South. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in South. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Theodore Moore
hard disagree but ok
25 upvotes
Kinsley R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely improving and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (East) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely improving and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (East) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
23 upvotes
Santiago Parker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 3 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 3 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
18 upvotes
Quinn Stewart
preach
15 upvotes
Sebastian Hernandez
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
15 upvotes
brooklyn_papa
glad someone said it
9 upvotes
Lucas Martin
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 30, moved here 7 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Old Town and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for retirees. improving 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 Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 30, moved here 7 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Old Town and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for retirees. improving 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 Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
7 upvotes
Isla Mendoza
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely decent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Eastside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic 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.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely decent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Eastside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic 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.
7 upvotes
Adam Diaz
been saying this for years
2 upvotes
Carter
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Old Town) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Old Town) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
2 upvotes
Everett Mendoza
not my experience at all
1 upvotes