Not sure if this has been asked before, but I'm a 44-year-old lawyer and Rent is about $1,022/month for a decent place. Average temperature is around 50--F, so expect cold winters. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Am I wrong here? Thanks for reading. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
7 upvotes
13 Replies
Katherine Nguyen
wish I knew this sooner
37 upvotes
Donna S.
hard disagree but ok
30 upvotes
Valentina M.
glad someone said it
30 upvotes
Ralph K.
spot on
27 upvotes
Willow
Used to live on the West side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
24 upvotes
Kinsley Hughes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 12 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
tucsonfan2024
Came here for work and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The walkability is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
20 upvotes
Anna Johnson
Came here for weather and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The pet-friendliness is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
11 upvotes
Sadie
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 45, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Affordable housing options
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Can feel isolated
3. The job market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
10 upvotes
Dominic P.
This.
8 upvotes
Kennedy H.
haha yep pretty much
7 upvotes
Zoey
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Highland. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
4 upvotes
Brielle
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
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