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Adrian
moving
Moving to Park Forest with kids -good idea?
It's a a small town city with about 20,898 people. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
3 upvotes
14 Replies
Nolan W.
Bought a house here in 2022 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
39 upvotes
denvervibes2026
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 38, moved here 15 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Pine Hills and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Can feel isolated
3. The walkability situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for young professionals. excellent 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 Houston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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 chef, 38, moved here 15 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Pine Hills and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Can feel isolated
3. The walkability situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for young professionals. excellent 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 Houston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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
Joshua Baker
exactly what I was thinking
37 upvotes
Deborah R.
nah I disagree
34 upvotes
Lucas Kelly
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
33 upvotes
Paisley Turner
hmm interesting perspective
24 upvotes
Kayden
facts
18 upvotes
Stella F.
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Oak Park area are decent. Kids love it here.
16 upvotes
Gabriel Wood
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is community vibe. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
7 upvotes
Audrey Gray
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
7 upvotes
Michael M.
same here
7 upvotes
Parker Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 36, moved here 14 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Downtown and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for young professionals. pretty good 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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 chef, 36, moved here 14 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Downtown and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for young professionals. pretty good 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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
Valentina Kelly
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
4 upvotes
Willow Bailey
Totally agree!
2 upvotes