Anyone else feel this way? Military spouse here. The median home value here is around $186,800, which is actually reasonable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Thanks in advance!
48 upvotes
30 Replies
Eliana Hernandez
exactly what I was thinking
39 upvotes
Thomas Young
I've lived in Lakewood for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Baltimore, 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
- Good internet infrastructure
- The weather scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
Claire
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The healthcare is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
39 upvotes
Amelia Wood
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Houston it's decent.
38 upvotes
Maya Clark
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 50, moved here 2 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in East and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
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. Can feel isolated
3. The cost of living situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: 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 San Francisco, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$80K 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.
36 upvotes
Emily Hughes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 10 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
35 upvotes
Bennett Y.
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.
33 upvotes
Rylee
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Nolan
+1
30 upvotes
Bennett Adams
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 15 years. Moved from Miami for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Highland schools are hit or miss. 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. Can feel isolated. Limited shopping options. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Willow P.
hmm interesting perspective
27 upvotes
Charlotte Anderson
preach
26 upvotes
Carson W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in legal. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
24 upvotes
Adam Patel
I work in retail here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is average. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
23 upvotes
Landon A.
I've lived in Uptown for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by job market. 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 food scene scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
22 upvotes
Grayson Reyes
yeah no that's not right
22 upvotes
Kinsley Alvarez
great question, following
21 upvotes
Jace R.
same here
19 upvotes
Sophie
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The job market scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Happy to answer more specific questions..
19 upvotes
Luca Ramirez
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much competitive but now it's improving.
15 upvotes
Ruby Thomas
big facts right here
13 upvotes
Genesis Cook
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 5 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to food scene but Hope this helps!.
11 upvotes
Addison Hughes
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
7 upvotes
Jacob Wood
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
7 upvotes
happy_harper88
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The safety is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
raised_genesis21
nah I disagree
4 upvotes
Evan Myers
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 1 years. Moved from LA for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2021 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland schools are tough. 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. Winters are long and cold. Nightlife is limited. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Elijah Wilson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 44, moved here 9 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Lakewood and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Seattle, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$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.
1 upvotes
Sebastian Ward
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
1 upvotes
Melanie Reyes
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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