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Brooklyn Taylor
moving
Anyone regret moving to Vandalia?
Hey, Been living here since 2013. You can expect to pay around $863 for rent h
0 upvotes
13 Replies
Piper Lopez
100%
39 upvotes
Paisley
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
34 upvotes
David K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 39, moved here 7 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Downtown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 39, moved here 7 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Downtown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
29 upvotes
Claire King
Came here for weather and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The food scene is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Genesis Green
lol so true
28 upvotes
Luke Jones
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 25, moved here 9 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Uptown and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for young professionals. decent vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Dallas, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 25, moved here 9 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Uptown and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for young professionals. decent vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Dallas, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
26 upvotes
Jonathan R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
26 upvotes
Lucas King
I've lived in Westside for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- The dating scene scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- The dating scene scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Madeline Rivera
hard disagree but ok
16 upvotes
melanie_native
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
14 upvotes
Harper Hall
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
14 upvotes
Claire Anderson
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
13 upvotes
Valentina Torres
Bought a house here in 2021 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone about the same since then.
6 upvotes