Been meaning to ask this. I'm a 23-year-old writer and Homes are going for about $222,700 on average. The weather takes some getting used to. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
56 upvotes
23 Replies
Nova
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely decent and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
40 upvotes
Claire
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Baltimore it's solid.
39 upvotes
tucson_sofia
bump
33 upvotes
Aria Stewart
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Jackson
wish I knew this sooner
28 upvotes
Mason Watson
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much competitive but now it's decent.
27 upvotes
Kennedy Kelly
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from San Diego about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
27 upvotes
Joseph W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely excellent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Springfield) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
24 upvotes
Lucas Clark
Used to live on the Cedar Grove side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
23 upvotes
fresno_jayden
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from New York about 10 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is underrated.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Happy to answer more specific questions..
18 upvotes
Wesley Martin
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
15 upvotes
Vivian M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely tough and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Springfield) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe 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.
13 upvotes
Miles M.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
Autumn Brown
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Pine Hills. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in government. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
9 upvotes
julia_living
accurate
9 upvotes
Emma L.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Maple Ridge. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in real estate. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Definitely worth checking out..
9 upvotes
Abigail W.
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much growing but now it's pretty good.
9 upvotes
Connor Foster
hmm interesting perspective
8 upvotes
Carson Rivera
haha yep pretty much
6 upvotes
Jayden Peterson
this is the way
6 upvotes
Silas Ramos
Came here for work and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
4 upvotes
Denise M.
great question, following
2 upvotes
John Brown
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much affordable but now it's challenging.
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