You can expect to pay around $1,857 for rent here. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Would love some local perspective. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
6 upvotes
11 Replies
Quinn J.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 9 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
36 upvotes
Luke Baker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Valentina
facts
27 upvotes
Leonardo Evans
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
18 upvotes
Linda B.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Isaac Bennett
wish I knew this sooner
15 upvotes
Robert Alvarez
hmm interesting perspective
13 upvotes
Lydia Morris
100%
12 upvotes
aiden_guy
interesting, hadn't considered that
11 upvotes
Vivian D.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely pretty good and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
9 upvotes
Declan T.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Good luck with whatever you decide..
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