Curious what people think. I'm a remote worker and Median household income is $85,189, which feels pretty solid for the area. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Looking forward to hearing from you all. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
18 upvotes
29 Replies
David Taylor
haha yep pretty much
39 upvotes
Logan B.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
36 upvotes
Serenity Watson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 12 years. Moved from Austin for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not very walkable outside downtown. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
William Sanchez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Houston it's average.
34 upvotes
Gianna James
as a local I can confirm
34 upvotes
Sophie W.
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The school system is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
Leonardo Jackson
Moved here from Houston about 7 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to food scene but Good luck with whatever you decide..
33 upvotes
mesadude2024
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is dating scene. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Maya Allen
interesting, hadn't considered that
30 upvotes
Reagan
nah I disagree
28 upvotes
Ian Hill
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The safety is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
Hailey Collins
same here
25 upvotes
William Clark
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Tampa it's decent.
24 upvotes
Kai Williams
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Phoenix about 7 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
23 upvotes
Elena Jackson
Came here for school and stayed because it was the best decision I ever made. The dating scene is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
22 upvotes
Aaliyah
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 54, moved here 2 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Greenfield and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good airport with direct flights
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. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited shopping options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$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.
22 upvotes
Everly J.
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
20 upvotes
Lillian
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 10 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's reasonable 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 hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
16 upvotes
Timothy L.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Kaylee F.
as a local I can confirm
14 upvotes
Roman Kelly
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Portland 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 Downtown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Samuel
hard disagree but ok
13 upvotes
Ethan Walker
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
12 upvotes
Carson Collins
bump
12 upvotes
Ian Foster
hmm interesting perspective
11 upvotes
William Chavez
not my experience at all
3 upvotes
Ellie Long
Bought a house here in 2015 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
2 upvotes
Nevaeh Clark
preach
1 upvotes
Jonathan M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 38, moved here 5 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Riverside and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The healthcare situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K 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.
All Countries
