Hello, I'm single, late 50s, and Poverty rate is 11.7%, which is around average. The median home value here is around $154,900, which is actually reasonable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. What neighborhoods would you suggest? People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
26 upvotes
10 Replies
Wesley Morales
following this thread
35 upvotes
Vivian H.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 12 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
28 upvotes
Eliana
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
25 upvotes
wild_vivian38
exactly what I was thinking
20 upvotes
cool_maya82
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
12 upvotes
Ryan R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 52, moved here 5 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Westside and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The nightlife situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K 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.
10 upvotes
Christian Williams
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
8 upvotes
Ella Martinez
Totally agree!
8 upvotes
Silas Castillo
Moved here from Baltimore about 15 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to housing market but No regrets on my end..
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