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oaklandvibes2025
jobs
Job hunting in Oreland -tips?
Longtime lurker here, Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
12 upvotes
14 Replies
Lucy Mendoza
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
40 upvotes
Declan A.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 44, moved here 15 years ago from New York. I've lived in South and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for families. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 New York, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$120K 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 pharmacist, 44, moved here 15 years ago from New York. I've lived in South and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for families. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 New York, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$120K 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.
36 upvotes
portland_maya
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Connor Baker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 58, moved here 5 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Greenfield and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - 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 traffic situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K 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 data analyst, 58, moved here 5 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Greenfield and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - 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 traffic situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K 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.
29 upvotes
Axel Lopez
as a local I can confirm
29 upvotes
Violet Watson
underrated comment
25 upvotes
Victoria Richardson
Saving this thread
24 upvotes
Aaron H.
I've lived in East for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Diverse dining options
- Strong sense of community
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Diverse dining options
- Strong sense of community
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
21 upvotes
Lucy M.
Moved here from Houston about 13 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to job market but Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
local_grace35
glad someone said it
14 upvotes
Donna G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Gabriella Ramirez
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
9 upvotes
Riley Wright
yeah no that's not right
8 upvotes
omahanative2021
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 44, moved here 11 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Atlanta, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K 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.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 44, moved here 11 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Atlanta, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K 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.
5 upvotes