Hi all, Poverty rate is 6.3%, which is pretty low. The unemployment rate is 2.0%, which is pretty low. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Am I overthinking this? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The weather takes some getting used to.
2 upvotes
25 Replies
la_natalie
I'm a chef and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is average and there's always something going on.
40 upvotes
Thomas Jimenez
exactly what I was thinking
37 upvotes
Olivia Sanchez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 6 years. Moved from Charlotte for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is decent - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are average. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited high-paying job options. Property taxes are high. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Madelyn Foster
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
Luna J.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely better than expected and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Riverside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
35 upvotes
Weston M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is underrated in most areas.
30 upvotes
Doris O.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
30 upvotes
Declan Foster
Came here for weather and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The public transit is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
27 upvotes
Greyson W.
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The cultural scene is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
25 upvotes
Jacqueline C.
This.
23 upvotes
Owen Stewart
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 7 years. Moved from Charlotte for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Chain restaurants dominate. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
18 upvotes
Victoria Jimenez
100%
16 upvotes
Eleanor B.
Bought a house here in 2023 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
15 upvotes
Grayson Perez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in consulting. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Hope this helps!.
15 upvotes
Ralph S.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 2 years. Moved from San Francisco for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited high-paying job options. Dating scene is rough. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Sadie R.
This.
11 upvotes
Axel Adams
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 7 years. Moved from San Diego for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is tough - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Road conditions need improvement. Far from beaches/mountains. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
indy_mason
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is dating scene. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
7 upvotes
Brielle R.
yep
7 upvotes
Jack Lewis
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 hit or miss and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Midtown) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit 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.
4 upvotes
Emma Young
I'm a marketing manager and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
4 upvotes
Andrea Y.
underrated comment
4 upvotes
Robert Anderson
hmm interesting perspective
4 upvotes
Luke Gray
it depends on the neighborhood
0 upvotes
Isaiah Johnson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 13 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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