Longtime lurker here, Military spouse here. The median home value here is around $240,200, which is actually reasonable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Let me know your thoughts.
2 upvotes
11 Replies
Sarah Morales
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 1 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is solid.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
William Lopez
couldn't agree more
34 upvotes
Camila Nguyen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 33, moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Oak Park and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for families. surprisingly good 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 Atlanta, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
22 upvotes
Ezekiel Nelson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in finance. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
Cameron
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The school system is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
20 upvotes
indy_ian
Bought a house here in 2017 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
11 upvotes
Hunter Hughes
big facts right here
10 upvotes
Amelia Wood
bump
8 upvotes
Caroline Mitchell
I've lived in Downtown for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
- The school system scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Definitely worth checking out..
5 upvotes
Connor Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
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