Hey everyone, We're a young couple and It's a a smaller city city with about 67,103 people. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Let me know your thoughts. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
29 upvotes
26 Replies
Luca J.
Came here for school and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The pet-friendliness is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Alan W.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
38 upvotes
lagirl2022
I've lived in Highland for about 4 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 Pittsburgh, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
- The outdoor recreation scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Definitely worth checking out..
37 upvotes
Harper Hernandez
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 13 years. Moved from Austin for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have ski resorts 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 average. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Dating scene is rough. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Jean L.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (South) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
35 upvotes
Reagan
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
30 upvotes
Sofia Reyes
I've lived in Old Town for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good airport with direct flights
- The traffic scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
29 upvotes
Eliana Reyes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 1 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
27 upvotes
Noah Hall
Moved here from Nashville about 15 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to cost of living but Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
Carson Allen
facts
22 upvotes
William Stewart
lol so true
21 upvotes
chloe_mama
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 24, moved here 7 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Meadowbrook 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. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited shopping options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for retirees. solid 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 Portland, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
20 upvotes
julian_fan
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
20 upvotes
Nevaeh
facts
19 upvotes
Cora Brown
same here
19 upvotes
Christine R.
100%
18 upvotes
Natalie Torres
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
15 upvotes
Silas
not my experience at all
14 upvotes
phoenix_lillian
I've been living here for 15 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The nightlife is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
13 upvotes
Jerry G.
honestly same experience here
8 upvotes
Sophia R.
Moved here from Phoenix about 4 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to housing market but Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Axel Ruiz
as a local I can confirm
8 upvotes
Wyatt Sanders
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 3 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
Elizabeth Gutierrez
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Sunset area are improving. Kids love it here.
4 upvotes
Declan C.
seconding this
1 upvotes
Peyton Ortiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Meadowbrook. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
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