If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
40 upvotes
Sarah F.
noted, appreciate it
39 upvotes
Michael S.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
39 upvotes
Sophia Garcia
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
33 upvotes
Kaylee Martinez
100%
30 upvotes
Isaac R.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Carson Kim
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The school system scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Jonathan
it depends on the neighborhood
27 upvotes
Genesis
I work in finance here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is better than expected. No regrets on my end..
26 upvotes
Leo Campbell
lol so true
26 upvotes
Eleanor Lee
I'm a nurse and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Harold R.
wish I knew this sooner
26 upvotes
Bella Long
yeah no that's not right
26 upvotes
Jackson Howard
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Kennedy Robinson
Moved here from Raleigh about 7 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to traffic but Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
Jackson J.
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is walkability. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
16 upvotes
Ian T.
I work in healthcare here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is challenging. No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
William Hill
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Compared to Chicago it's excellent.
14 upvotes
Isabella A.
glad someone said it
12 upvotes
Julia Y.
yep
12 upvotes
Sarah Cruz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Betty R.
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Sunset area are solid. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Hazel N.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 29, moved here 8 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Oak Park and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The job market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Atlanta, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
7 upvotes
Ryan M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 5 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. 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 camping, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
5 upvotes
Mason E.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Atlanta about 15 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is improving.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Good luck with whatever you decide..
4 upvotes
Cora
I'm a social worker and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
Joshua Howard
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 2 years here, that's my honest assessment.
1 upvotes
Josiah Taylor
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Korean.