Hello, I'm a remote worker and Average temperature is around 52--F, so expect cold winters. Rent is about $1,120/month for a decent place. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Looking forward to hearing from you all.
15 upvotes
14 Replies
living_ryan38
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Korean places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
34 upvotes
Nova Thompson
not my experience at all
32 upvotes
Rebecca T.
hard disagree but ok
31 upvotes
Madison H.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 7 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
29 upvotes
Kyle G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 34, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in The Heights and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cultural scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Houston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K 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.
29 upvotes
Joseph Smith
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 56, moved here 10 years ago from LA. I've lived in Sunset and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The housing market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 LA, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
27 upvotes
Peyton Reyes
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Chicago about 5 years ago. The main reasons were work and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are growing, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Carolyn C.
couldn't agree more
24 upvotes
Amelia Nelson
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
23 upvotes
Addison Chavez
I've lived in Oak Park for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
- The housing market scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
19 upvotes
eva_native
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
16 upvotes
Jonathan F.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much established but now it's surprisingly good.
15 upvotes
Naomi Wright
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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