Random thought, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and The median home value here is around $398,900, which seems about average. It's a a smaller city city with about 59,010 people. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What are your go-to spots? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The city has invested a lot in new development.
16 upvotes
27 Replies
Reagan Johnson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. No regrets on my end..
39 upvotes
Christian Allen
accurate
38 upvotes
Clara
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 11 years. Moved from New York for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2023 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. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is tough - 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. Eastside schools are challenging. 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. Bugs and humidity in summer. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Jaxon M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Brenda D.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
36 upvotes
Amelia
Moved here from Atlanta about 15 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to traffic but Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
Everly L.
Saving this thread
36 upvotes
Elena S.
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 14 years. Moved from Baltimore for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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 challenging. 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. Property taxes are high. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
35 upvotes
Emmett Gutierrez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
33 upvotes
Hudson
great question, following
33 upvotes
Gianna
same here
32 upvotes
Peyton Phillips
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
31 upvotes
William Sanchez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
31 upvotes
Stephen A.
I've lived in Old Town for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Close to major attractions
- The housing market scene is improving
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
27 upvotes
Wyatt Young
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
25 upvotes
Anna A.
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
24 upvotes
charlottevibes2024
nah I disagree
22 upvotes
Eli White
I work in construction here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Hope this helps!.
17 upvotes
Avery
as a local I can confirm
12 upvotes
Elizabeth Stewart
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 1 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to traffic but No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Ian Peterson
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much established but now it's average.
9 upvotes
Julia L.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in North. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Lydia Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from San Francisco 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 Uptown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
9 upvotes
Matthew Nguyen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Baltimore about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Winters are long and cold
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is improving.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Feel free to reach out with questions..
9 upvotes
Joseph Williams
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
8 upvotes
Eliana Morris
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great seafood places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
7 upvotes
Eleanor Cox
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 5 years. Moved from Chicago for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly 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:**
consulting is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Meadowbrook 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. Property taxes are high. Limited shopping options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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