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Elena Hill
living
What I wish I knew before living in Skokie
First post here. I grew up here but left for a while. Am I wrong here? Any help is appreciated.
29 upvotes
22 Replies
Kai Mendoza
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 39, moved here 14 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in East and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The community vibe situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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.
Background: I'm a electrician, 39, moved here 14 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in East and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The community vibe situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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.
33 upvotes
Waylon Richardson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 32, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in East and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong sense of community
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. Can feel isolated
3. The food scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K 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.
Background: I'm a contractor, 32, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in East and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong sense of community
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. Can feel isolated
3. The food scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K 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.
29 upvotes
Isla Carter
accurate
28 upvotes
houstondude2022
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
28 upvotes
Alexander Anderson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely excellent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Eastside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic 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.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely excellent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Eastside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic 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.
26 upvotes
Gabriel Baker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
24 upvotes
Alexander Diaz
literally same
22 upvotes
Adam Diaz
yeah no that's not right
22 upvotes
Alexander Martin
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
22 upvotes
jaxmama2026
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The dating scene is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
19 upvotes
Everly F.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely underrated and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely underrated and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
18 upvotes
Isabella Hall
haha yep pretty much
13 upvotes
Leo Cook
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Everett Smith
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (West) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation 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.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (West) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation 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.
9 upvotes
Nancy L.
I work in hospitality here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
8 upvotes
Axel White
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (West) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability 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.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (West) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability 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.
7 upvotes
Timothy L.
accurate
5 upvotes
austin_madelyn
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in Cedar Grove area are tough. Kids love it here.
2 upvotes
Claire King
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
2 upvotes
Alice Davis
I've lived in Midtown for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- The cost of living scene is improving
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- The cost of living scene is improving
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
1 upvotes
Hannah O.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
0 upvotes
Allison
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Houston about 11 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are pricey, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Houston about 11 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are pricey, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
0 upvotes