Poverty rate is 13.3%, which is around average. Crime rate is something to consider -Rock Port sits at 318.7 per 100K. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Worth the trade-offs? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
6 upvotes
12 Replies
Nathan Morgan
interesting, hadn't considered that
40 upvotes
desert_caroline68
as a local I can confirm
39 upvotes
Claire Kelly
I work in engineering here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
Robert Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 33, moved here 7 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Uptown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - 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 job market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
31 upvotes
Eva Johnson
Can confirm, been here 2 years.
20 upvotes
Alice H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Definitely worth checking out..
20 upvotes
Eliana Davis
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 7 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
19 upvotes
Jacob Foster
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Midtown side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
17 upvotes
Asher Jackson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in tech. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Sophia
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much growing but now it's challenging.
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