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Bobby J.
moving
Moving to Peoria for work — advice?
Anyone else feel this way? Military spouse here. It's a a mid-size city city with about 194K people.
39 upvotes
26 Replies
Olivia
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The safety is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
34 upvotes
Harper R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 50, moved here 11 years ago from New York. I've lived in Fairview and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Can feel isolated
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for retirees. solid vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 teacher, 50, moved here 11 years ago from New York. I've lived in Fairview and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Can feel isolated
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for retirees. solid vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
32 upvotes
Kinsley Diaz
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
30 upvotes
Harper C.
interesting, hadn't considered that
30 upvotes
Eli
this is the way
30 upvotes
Noah
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
27 upvotes
fresno_jameson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in government. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in government. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
Ezra Y.
couldn't agree more
23 upvotes
Henry Campbell
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
23 upvotes
Harper Hernandez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to San Francisco it's improving.
21 upvotes
Vivian Moore
great question, following
21 upvotes
Kinsley Brooks
I've lived in Fairview for about 9 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 food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Good luck with whatever you decide..
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
William T.
not my experience at all
18 upvotes
Wesley Rodriguez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Nashville about 9 years ago. The main reasons were weather and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is underrated.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Nashville about 9 years ago. The main reasons were weather and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is underrated.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Good luck with whatever you decide..
17 upvotes
Parker Brooks
I've lived in Greenfield for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Four distinct seasons
- The housing market scene is tough
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Four distinct seasons
- The housing market scene is tough
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
leo_kid
good to know, thanks
13 upvotes
Madeline Cruz
Saving this thread
13 upvotes
Christian Brown
wish I knew this sooner
11 upvotes
Allison Murphy
I work in legal here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is underrated. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Dominic Morgan
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely improving and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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 housing market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely improving and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
10 upvotes
Valentina Moore
haha yep pretty much
8 upvotes
Adam Jackson
honestly same experience here
4 upvotes
Amelia Mendoza
Came here for family and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The walkability is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
3 upvotes
Emilia Adams
I'm a marketing manager and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
0 upvotes
Olivia Scott
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much developing but now it's improving.
0 upvotes
Jaxon Kelly
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Portland about 9 years ago. The main reasons were family and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is decent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a chef who relocated here from Portland about 9 years ago. The main reasons were family and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is decent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Good luck with whatever you decide..
0 upvotes