Alright, I'm a 42-year-old firefighter and Median household income is $127,056, which feels pretty solid for the area. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
12 upvotes
24 Replies
Sofia Johnson
hard disagree but ok
40 upvotes
Grayson Peterson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely pretty good and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (East) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene 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.
37 upvotes
coastal_clara80
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. No regrets on my end..
36 upvotes
Ezra H.
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 6 years. Moved from Boston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is improving - 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 surprisingly good. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Homeless population growing downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Oliver Stewart
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
27 upvotes
Leah G.
I'm a lawyer and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
27 upvotes
Cora Alvarez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 6 years. Moved from Denver for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is decent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are pretty good. 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. Nightlife is limited. Not very walkable outside downtown. And healthcare 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.
26 upvotes
Melanie Kim
I've lived in North for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good internet infrastructure
- The cultural scene scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Charlotte C.
good to know, thanks
23 upvotes
Nathan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 48, moved here 9 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Midtown and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The food scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 San Diego, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$120K 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.
23 upvotes
Everly Howard
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City 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 Old Town. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Hope this helps!.
19 upvotes
Laura R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Chicago about 11 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
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. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
17 upvotes
Audrey J.
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The nightlife is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Andrew Castillo
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The food scene is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
14 upvotes
Hannah Young
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Baltimore it's excellent.
13 upvotes
Alexa T.
haha yep pretty much
11 upvotes
tampamama2021
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 6 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
9 upvotes
Waylon Turner
yep
9 upvotes
Lawrence L.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Korean places. I love the pace of life here.
9 upvotes
Daniel Turner
I work in consulting here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is excellent. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
9 upvotes
eleanor_native
interesting, hadn't considered that
6 upvotes
Hannah Brooks
couldn't agree more
4 upvotes
Jose Taylor
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
2 upvotes
Elena Garcia
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much pricey but now it's challenging.
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