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Noah C.
living
Day-to-day life in Wheaton, IL
Not sure if this has been asked before, but My partner and I are Average temperature is around 49--F, so expect cold winters.
11 upvotes
23 Replies
Miles Lee
noted, appreciate it
40 upvotes
Charlotte Rogers
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
39 upvotes
David Robinson
Bought a house here in 2017 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
38 upvotes
Roy E.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
Arianna W.
yep
36 upvotes
Victoria Gray
Can confirm, been here 4 years.
36 upvotes
Wesley L.
bump
33 upvotes
Sarah Turner
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The pet-friendliness is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
33 upvotes
Kennedy Watson
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
32 upvotes
Hazel Foster
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great sushi places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
30 upvotes
William N.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
29 upvotes
John R.
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great sushi places. I love the pace of life here.
26 upvotes
jayden_vibes
accurate
26 upvotes
Luke N.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 43, moved here 11 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Springfield and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Portland, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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 contractor, 43, moved here 11 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Springfield and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Portland, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
19 upvotes
Jace Turner
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely improving and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely improving and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
17 upvotes
Matthew Perez
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..
15 upvotes
Genesis R.
I work in real estate here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is improving. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
15 upvotes
Violet Davis
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
Ellie
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 58, moved here 12 years ago from Boston. I've lived in South and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
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. Can feel isolated
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. decent 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 Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 data analyst, 58, moved here 12 years ago from Boston. I've lived in South and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
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. Can feel isolated
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. decent 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 Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
8 upvotes
Hudson Foster
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Maple Ridge. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Maple Ridge. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
6 upvotes
Anna Ramirez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 3 years. Moved from Austin for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. marketing 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:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Cedar Grove 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Property taxes are high. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 3 years. Moved from Austin for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. marketing 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:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Cedar Grove 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Property taxes are high. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Aria Robinson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 13 years. Moved from Baltimore for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. 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 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is decent - 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. Meadowbrook schools are average. 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. Limited public transit options. Limited shopping options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, 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.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 13 years. Moved from Baltimore for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. 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 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is decent - 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. Meadowbrook schools are average. 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. Limited public transit options. Limited shopping options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, 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.
1 upvotes
Isaac Kim
wish I knew this sooner
0 upvotes