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Alexa Lewis
jobs
Job hunting in Solvay -tips?
Anyone else feel this way? My family moved here when I was a kid. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Am I wrong here?
8 upvotes
15 Replies
Lucas Mendoza
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
40 upvotes
Mateo Castillo
interesting, hadn't considered that
35 upvotes
Wesley L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 53, moved here 4 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Riverside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Nashville, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K 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.
Background: I'm a teacher, 53, moved here 4 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Riverside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Nashville, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K 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.
33 upvotes
Henry Edwards
I've lived in South for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- The community vibe scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- The community vibe scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Happy to answer more specific questions..
32 upvotes
Kaylee
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 35, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The nightlife situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K 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.
Background: I'm a social worker, 35, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The nightlife situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K 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.
31 upvotes
Grayson Patel
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
29 upvotes
Kinsley Reed
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Denver about 10 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Affordable housing options
- Good airport with direct flights
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a chef who relocated here from Denver about 10 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Affordable housing options
- Good airport with direct flights
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Valentina Lopez
accurate
25 upvotes
Ruby Peterson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 1 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 1 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
urban_brielle70
I work in real estate here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is pretty good. Good luck with whatever you decide..
12 upvotes
Riley M.
interesting, hadn't considered that
11 upvotes
Adam Kelly
exactly what I was thinking
11 upvotes
Angel Baker
100%
2 upvotes
Savannah Sanchez
I'm a project manager and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
Aurora Ross
it depends on the neighborhood
1 upvotes