Been meaning to ask this. I relocated for work and With a population of 91,535, Santa Monica is a smaller city. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
19 upvotes
28 Replies
Madison J.
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 5 years. Moved from Boston for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have hiking trails 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 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Can feel isolated. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, 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.
39 upvotes
Marie H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Downtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Kaylee Jimenez
Used to live on the West side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
34 upvotes
Camila Morris
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
34 upvotes
Ellie O.
I've lived in North for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- The traffic scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Henry Turner
as a local I can confirm
32 upvotes
Landon King
glad someone said it
29 upvotes
Aaron
literally same
29 upvotes
Hazel Jimenez
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- The traffic scene is solid
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Sadie Patel
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
25 upvotes
Hannah Bailey
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
24 upvotes
denverfan2025
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
23 upvotes
Landon Cox
this is the way
23 upvotes
Lily Smith
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 6 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. 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. Fairview schools are better than expected. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Property taxes are high. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
23 upvotes
Angel Patel
This.
22 upvotes
Lucas Young
Came here for quality of life and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The cost of living is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
21 upvotes
Skylar Howard
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. weather used to be much reasonable but now it's tough.
21 upvotes
Paisley Patel
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
20 upvotes
John Morales
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in East. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Samuel
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
13 upvotes
Caroline Hall
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely tough and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
10 upvotes
Scarlett R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Miami about 10 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are pricey, gas is solid.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Hope this helps!.
7 upvotes
Benjamin P.
nah I disagree
5 upvotes
Avery Long
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Old Town side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
5 upvotes
Paisley Evans
Saving this thread
5 upvotes
Samantha E.
yeah no that's not right
3 upvotes
Carson Gutierrez
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much growing but now it's pretty good.
2 upvotes
charlottepapa2023
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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