Hi all, We have two kids and The unemployment rate is 1.8%, which is pretty low. Median household income is $53,125, which feels on the lower side for the area. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Any advice would be great.
2 upvotes
14 Replies
Elizabeth Scott
seconding this
39 upvotes
Naomi
literally same
36 upvotes
Savannah James
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Fairview. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
real_skylar34
Can confirm, been here 15 years.
32 upvotes
Madelyn P.
couldn't agree more
30 upvotes
Julian Ward
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
28 upvotes
Rylee Gutierrez
I've lived in Oak Park for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- The housing market scene is solid
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
26 upvotes
Silas Ruiz
yep
26 upvotes
Emily
couldn't agree more
26 upvotes
Camila
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Waylon Stewart
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much wild but now it's decent.
18 upvotes
Violet Mendoza
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
15 upvotes
Mackenzie Moore
Saving this thread
11 upvotes
Barbara F.
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
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