OK so Just moved here 9 months ago and Rent is about $2,080/month for a decent place. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Anyone in a similar situation? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
13 upvotes
14 Replies
Roman Green
lol so true
30 upvotes
Gianna D.
underrated comment
29 upvotes
Hailey Taylor
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
29 upvotes
Maverick Morales
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is decent in most areas.
20 upvotes
Madison S.
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much competitive but now it's average.
19 upvotes
Eleanor Thomas
accurate
19 upvotes
Luke Martin
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the Cedar Grove side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
18 upvotes
Joshua C.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The healthcare is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Eric L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 44, moved here 15 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Oak Park and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The pet-friendliness situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Tampa, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
16 upvotes
Autumn Roberts
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely pretty good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Riverside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
10 upvotes
Nevaeh James
been saying this for years
8 upvotes
Isabella K.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Cora
wish I knew this sooner
1 upvotes
Delilah
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to LA it's challenging.
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