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ian_lover living

Town 'n' Country quality of life -am I missing something?

So, You can expect to pay around $1,643 for rent here. With a population of 86,544, Town 'n' Country is a smaller city. The weather takes some getting used to. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. What do you all think? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
23 upvotes

25 Replies

proud_camila95
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Italian places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
40 upvotes
Bennett Wright
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 12 years. Moved from Miami for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.

**Employment:**
retail is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have mountains 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 hit or miss. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And walkability can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Ian
as a local I can confirm
40 upvotes
Anna Gray
+1
39 upvotes
Brooks Rogers
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Uptown for 14 years. Moved from Houston for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
tech is strong here. consulting 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:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown schools are improving. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And walkability can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Hazel R.
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The walkability is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
indy_andrew
lol so true
34 upvotes
Bradley T.
100%
27 upvotes
Joseph B.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Tampa about 1 years ago. The main reasons were work and a fresh start.

Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Close to major attractions

Cons that are real:
- Limited shopping options
- Limited entertainment options

Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is tough.

Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Definitely worth checking out..
27 upvotes
Claire K.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is stable 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 Rising rent and home prices.

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.
27 upvotes
Christine B.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.

I've been here 2 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is hit or miss.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Parker Martin
Came here for retirement and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The food scene is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
27 upvotes
Skylar Hall
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value safety, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely improving and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Highland) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.

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.
26 upvotes
Ryan Morgan
this is the way
18 upvotes
Jaxon Evans
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.

I've been here 15 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is surprisingly good.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Definitely worth checking out..
12 upvotes
Eli Martinez
I've lived in Greenfield for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
- The outdoor recreation scene is pretty good

The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Can feel isolated

Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Good luck with whatever you decide..
10 upvotes
Elizabeth R.
good to know, thanks
8 upvotes
orlandomind2023
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.

Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.

People: Generally solid. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Italian.

Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Zoey Brooks
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I love the pace of life here.
6 upvotes
Lily Martinez
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The traffic is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
5 upvotes
Ian H.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Springfield for 11 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2021 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. manufacturing 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's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield schools are hit or miss. 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. Nightlife is limited. Dating scene is rough. And food scene can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
4 upvotes
Grace D.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Eastside for 1 years. Moved from Dallas for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. real estate 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is decent - we have beaches 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited shopping options. And weather can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes
Jesse R.
I work in government here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is underrated. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
Serenity Ramirez
Can confirm, been here 12 years.
0 upvotes
Ariana G.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.

I've been here 3 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is better than expected.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Good luck with whatever you decide..
0 upvotes
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