OK so You can expect to pay around $1,258 for rent here. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Thoughts? The city has invested a lot in new development. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
88 upvotes
41 Replies
Brooklyn
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Landon Evans
Moved here from LA about 3 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to walkability but Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
James D.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 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 2-bed in Old Town. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in tech. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Isabelle Sanchez
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much stable but now it's hit or miss.
38 upvotes
Luca R.
accurate
36 upvotes
Weston Bailey
underrated comment
36 upvotes
Frances G.
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The dating scene is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
35 upvotes
Ethan H.
seconding this
35 upvotes
Helen W.
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in East area are challenging. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Benjamin Lee
I've lived in Eastside for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The weather scene is improving
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. No regrets on my end..
34 upvotes
Luna
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 55, moved here 4 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in West and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Decent public transit for the size
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. Nightlife is limited
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for families. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
33 upvotes
Angel
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 2 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Logan L.
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much reasonable but now it's decent.
33 upvotes
Sofia
bump
32 upvotes
Kennedy King
Moved here from Atlanta about 14 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to cost of living but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Lucy Thomas
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
31 upvotes
Sophia Murphy
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 12 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
31 upvotes
native_sarah91
I've lived in Midtown for about 11 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 Denver, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good internet infrastructure
- The cultural scene scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Definitely worth checking out..
29 upvotes
Katherine M.
couldn't agree more
27 upvotes
Luna Alvarez
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
25 upvotes
Ellie Roberts
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great sushi places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
24 upvotes
Mateo Morales
noted, appreciate it
24 upvotes
John S.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
24 upvotes
orlando_skylar
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The cultural scene is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Jackson R.
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Springfield area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
Mason Patel
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
23 upvotes
Alice Gomez
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
21 upvotes
Adeline Morris
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Greenfield area are challenging. Kids love it here.
20 upvotes
Olivia Ramos
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
milwaukee_nevaeh
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 54, moved here 15 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Fairview and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for couples. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Tampa, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K 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.
19 upvotes
Brittany N.
yep
17 upvotes
Natalie
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 27, moved here 13 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Uptown and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Can feel isolated
3. The job market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for families. solid vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Atlanta, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
16 upvotes
Hazel Morris
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Seattle about 12 years ago. The main reasons were weather and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Willow Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 36, moved here 1 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Property taxes are high
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Phoenix, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
13 upvotes
Xavier M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 55, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Midtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The cultural scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
11 upvotes
Miles Bennett
I've lived in East for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Decent public transit for the size
- The healthcare scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Kai A.
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much affordable but now it's pretty good.
2 upvotes
Arianna Thompson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 2 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
2 upvotes
Alice B.
nah I disagree
1 upvotes
Ezra M.
I've lived in North for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The traffic scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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