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Katherine H. housing

Cost of living reality check -Pekin

I'm a remote worker and It's a a smaller city city with about 31,812 people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. What would you do? Thanks for reading. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
28 upvotes

17 Replies

Landon T.
I'm a chef and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
39 upvotes
Thomas Lewis
Can confirm, been here 8 years.
38 upvotes
Adrian Murphy
I've lived in Midtown for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
- The public transit scene is challenging

The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains

Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Good luck with whatever you decide..
36 upvotes
Asher Rodriguez
Saving this thread
34 upvotes
Abigail J.
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
29 upvotes
Piper King
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
29 upvotes
Waylon F.
yep
28 upvotes
Julia Hughes
This.
26 upvotes
Caleb W.
interesting, hadn't considered that
21 upvotes
Margaret R.
Bought a house here in 2017 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone about the same since then.
17 upvotes
Julian Cox
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
17 upvotes
Isla Bennett
I've been living here for 7 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The pet-friendliness is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Jonathan B.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value weather, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely decent and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.

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.
11 upvotes
Maverick T.
This.
5 upvotes
Ruby Carter
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Lakewood area are excellent. Kids love it here.
5 upvotes
Jacob Martinez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a social worker, 25, moved here 7 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Downtown and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The housing market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Nashville, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
4 upvotes
chill_daniel43
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The traffic is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
4 upvotes
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