Curious what people think. Rent is about $1,049/month for a decent place. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Worth the trade-offs? Thanks! It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
2 upvotes
7 Replies
Peyton Hall
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great BBQ places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
37 upvotes
Alexander Adams
Totally agree!
35 upvotes
Justin J.
facts
34 upvotes
Emma Peterson
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
27 upvotes
la_lillian
underrated comment
12 upvotes
Savannah R.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
9 upvotes
Jayden T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 58, moved here 1 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Oak Park and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. surprisingly good 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 San Francisco, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is pricey. 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.
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