Random thought, I'm a 53-year-old contractor and The median home value here is around $676,900, which is pretty steep. Poverty rate is 0.6%, which is pretty low. Household incomes average around $148,711 in River Forest. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What would you do? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
14 upvotes
3 Replies
bostonnative2025
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 2 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Landon Gutierrez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 1 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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