Been meaning to ask this. I'm a college student here and Homes are going for about $270,000 on average. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. What would you do? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up.
22 upvotes
28 Replies
Madelyn R.
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 12 years. Moved from Portland 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 down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have state parks 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 decent. 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 very walkable outside downtown. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Anna Robinson
it depends on the neighborhood
39 upvotes
Greyson Jackson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
38 upvotes
Sadie Long
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
38 upvotes
Mateo Ramirez
I've lived in Springfield for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
- The housing market scene is solid
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
36 upvotes
Piper Martinez
Totally agree!
36 upvotes
Julian Sanders
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in South area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Hailey M.
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The pet-friendliness is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Ruth T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 50, moved here 14 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Greenfield and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Can feel isolated
3. The pet-friendliness situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Chicago, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
33 upvotes
Arianna Nelson
been saying this for years
31 upvotes
Landon Kelly
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
29 upvotes
Ethan Morris
Can confirm, been here 14 years.
29 upvotes
Silas Adams
Saving this thread
28 upvotes
Madeline
honestly same experience here
26 upvotes
Hannah Smith
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Happy to answer more specific questions..
25 upvotes
Jacob Campbell
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
24 upvotes
Helen P.
I work in finance here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is challenging. Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Aiden Sanders
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
19 upvotes
Luca
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
18 upvotes
Isaac Flores
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Seattle about 15 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Ruth J.
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Wesley
seconding this
12 upvotes
Theodore C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Highland. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in education. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like seafood.
No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
Ryan Bennett
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
11 upvotes
James R.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Atlanta it's underrated.
10 upvotes
Madelyn Walker
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
4 upvotes
Nora Thomas
interesting, hadn't considered that
2 upvotes
Oliver Sanders
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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