Not sure if this has been asked before, but Rent is about $1,389/month for a decent place. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Should I be concerned? Thanks in advance! Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
6 upvotes
29 Replies
Nathan J.
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
38 upvotes
George R.
exactly what I was thinking
37 upvotes
Eleanor Stewart
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great farm-to-table places. it exceeded my expectations.
36 upvotes
Avery M.
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Uptown area are excellent. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Paisley Harris
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Compared to LA it's hit or miss.
33 upvotes
Nicholas Sanders
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
33 upvotes
Benjamin
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Southern places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
32 upvotes
houston_joseph
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
Oliver Brown
as a local I can confirm
30 upvotes
Brooklyn Ward
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 5 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
23 upvotes
hunter_local
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 14 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
23 upvotes
Roger M.
100%
23 upvotes
Logan F.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
22 upvotes
tampagirl2020
Bought a house here in 2021 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
20 upvotes
Emma Cruz
it depends on the neighborhood
17 upvotes
Hudson
Moved here from Atlanta about 2 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to traffic but No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
Oliver Ruiz
noted, appreciate it
16 upvotes
Leo Brown
underrated comment
16 upvotes
Hailey Foster
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is challenging in most areas.
16 upvotes
Autumn Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
Dominic Lopez
I've lived in Uptown for about 15 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 Phoenix, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Four distinct seasons
- The school system scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
12 upvotes
matthew_girl
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
Stella Howard
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from San Diego about 5 years ago. The main reasons were work and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are affordable, gas is solid.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Landon Mitchell
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
9 upvotes
Rylee Gutierrez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 12 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
7 upvotes
Clara P.
noted, appreciate it
6 upvotes
William
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 13 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
5 upvotes
Katherine Foster
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 3 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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