So, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Median household income is $52,515, which feels on the lower side for the area. The median home value here is around $163,600, which is actually reasonable. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. What are your go-to spots? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
25 upvotes
26 Replies
Hudson G.
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much established but now it's pretty good.
39 upvotes
Aiden Cox
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Austin it's challenging.
36 upvotes
Diane T.
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
35 upvotes
Mateo T.
great question, following
34 upvotes
Joseph Perez
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
32 upvotes
Melanie Martin
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 31, moved here 5 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Old Town and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The public transit situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for couples. hit or miss 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 Chicago, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$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.
30 upvotes
Rylee Clark
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
28 upvotes
Addison Cooper
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Leonardo Collins
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Southern places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
21 upvotes
Andrew Lee
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
21 upvotes
Kayla M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
21 upvotes
Skylar Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 43, moved here 2 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Riverside and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. tough 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 Boston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
20 upvotes
Ryan Nelson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Dallas about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is challenging.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
19 upvotes
isaiah_local
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 8 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
18 upvotes
Megan W.
I've lived in Eastside for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- The food scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Liam King
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Midtown. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
16 upvotes
austin_waylon
Saving this thread
15 upvotes
Everly R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 8 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Weston
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 9 years. Moved from Houston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are pretty good. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Chain restaurants dominate. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Claire Bailey
it depends on the neighborhood
11 upvotes
river_eleanor73
I've lived in East for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The walkability scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Hope this helps!.
9 upvotes
Daniel S.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 46, moved here 3 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Westside and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cultural scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Phoenix, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$140K 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.
9 upvotes
chill_wyatt53
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 32, moved here 14 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Highland and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The weather situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Denver, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K 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.
8 upvotes
phillysoul2022
good to know, thanks
6 upvotes
Leo Morales
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Minneapolis about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Happy to answer more specific questions..
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