Hey folks, My partner and I are Homes are going for about $158,600 on average. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Has anyone dealt with this? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
26 upvotes
25 Replies
nyclocal2020
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 7 years. Moved from Austin for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have national forests 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 better than expected. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Can feel isolated. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
kayden_walker
I'm a marketing manager and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
39 upvotes
loving_nathan28
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 public transit. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
Weston Edwards
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 5 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Emilia T.
it depends on the neighborhood
35 upvotes
Caleb Baker
hmm interesting perspective
32 upvotes
Quinn Evans
literally same
32 upvotes
Gianna Kim
hmm interesting perspective
31 upvotes
Lillian Reed
Bought a house here in 2019 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
30 upvotes
Christian Brown
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Oliver Rodriguez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
28 upvotes
Reagan Thomas
wish I knew this sooner
26 upvotes
Jaxon
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
23 upvotes
Leo Turner
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. community vibe used to be much stable but now it's average.
21 upvotes
indy_carter
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
Ethan P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 13 years. Moved from Raleigh for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. engineering 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are solid. 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. Winters are long and cold. Chain restaurants dominate. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
18 upvotes
Skylar
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great seafood places. it exceeded my expectations.
12 upvotes
Kennedy C.
I work in consulting here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is improving. Definitely worth checking out..
11 upvotes
Mary N.
I'm a accountant and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is average and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes
Aaliyah Moore
nah I disagree
5 upvotes
Ezra Anderson
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 affordable but now it's challenging.
4 upvotes
Addison Carter
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
3 upvotes
Elena Gomez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 10 years. Moved from Raleigh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2018 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Highland 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. Limited shopping options. Far from beaches/mountains. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Wyatt Reed
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 2 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
1 upvotes
Waylon Gray
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 3 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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