Longtime lurker here, Household incomes average around $46,628 in Rochester. The city has invested a lot in new development. Am I overthinking this?
57 upvotes
22 Replies
Hannah 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 4 years. Moved from Portland for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. Oak Park schools are improving. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Property taxes are high. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Emilia Cook
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
37 upvotes
Audrey Price
I've lived in Riverside for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Chicago, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
- The school system scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
35 upvotes
Carol E.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 11 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. South schools are tough. 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. Can feel isolated. Limited shopping options. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
real_bennett82
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The healthcare is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Eva Johnson
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The weather is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
piper_runner
I've lived in Fairview for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- The school system scene is tough
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
26 upvotes
Parker Miller
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much pricey but now it's pretty good.
25 upvotes
Sebastian Rodriguez
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
Grace T.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Boston it's hit or miss.
23 upvotes
Caroline Flores
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great seafood places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
21 upvotes
Arianna G.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 12 years. Moved from LA for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. Springfield schools are solid. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not very walkable outside downtown. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Nicholas C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 10 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Riverside schools are excellent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Far from beaches/mountains. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Miles Nguyen
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 8 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to cultural scene but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Everly Perez
I'm a sales manager and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
15 upvotes
Lucy Thompson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in government. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
10 upvotes
Bella Kim
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
Andrew Turner
big facts right here
8 upvotes
Bradley W.
I've lived in The Heights for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- The dating scene scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
6 upvotes
Hailey Foster
spot on
4 upvotes
Michael M.
This.
1 upvotes
Natalie W.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is solid in most areas.
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