Curious what people think. We have two kids and The median home value here is around $334,800, which seems about average. Average temperature is around 47--F, so expect cold winters. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Property taxes are high but you get good services.
22 upvotes
18 Replies
Elena Price
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Oak Park area are decent. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
dallas_jayden
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in retail. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
34 upvotes
Luca Richardson
underrated comment
29 upvotes
raised_christian21
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely excellent and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
28 upvotes
Nova Campbell
seconding this
27 upvotes
urban_william43
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
26 upvotes
Austin B.
big facts right here
25 upvotes
Asher Ross
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
22 upvotes
Abigail H.
same here
20 upvotes
Connor M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely excellent and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
19 upvotes
Daniel Reed
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the East side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
14 upvotes
Madeline Long
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 9 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Autumn W.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
Kai Carter
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Evelyn W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Austin about 7 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are developing, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Hudson Cook
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
2 upvotes
Carson Hall
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much growing but now it's surprisingly good.
1 upvotes
Gabriel Anderson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
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