Longtime lurker here, I'm a college student here and Rent is about $1,301/month for a decent place. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Does this match your experience? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much.
23 upvotes
7 Replies
Hunter Taylor
Moved here from Portland about 5 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to community vibe but Good luck with whatever you decide..
39 upvotes
Leonardo Kim
same here
36 upvotes
Carter P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Chloe P.
interesting, hadn't considered that
28 upvotes
Robert Martinez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
Stephen T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely challenging and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Old Town) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare 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.
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