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Dennis R.
best-worst
What Bayamón zona urbana does better than anywhere else
Hey folks, I've been here for 4 years and It's a very car-dependent ci
6 upvotes
25 Replies
tucsonfan2024
Used to live on the Riverside side, now on the Sunset side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
40 upvotes
Everett Richardson
Saving this thread
39 upvotes
Aaliyah Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 26, moved here 9 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Lakewood and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited shopping options
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K 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.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 26, moved here 9 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Lakewood and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited shopping options
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K 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.
38 upvotes
genesis_native
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in West area are excellent. Kids love it here.
38 upvotes
sunny_nicholas44
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Definitely worth checking out..
34 upvotes
Sebastian
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely tough and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Highland) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely tough and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Highland) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
33 upvotes
waylon_dude
Bought a house here in 2016 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
33 upvotes
Emmett Jones
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 14 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to nightlife but No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
Aubrey Martin
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Cooper Morris
great question, following
27 upvotes
zoey_kid
not my experience at all
19 upvotes
Kennedy Martinez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
18 upvotes
Madelyn R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from San Diego about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited public transit options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from San Diego about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited public transit options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
Lauren P.
exactly what I was thinking
15 upvotes
Ezekiel M.
Bought a house here in 2022 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
14 upvotes
Gabriella T.
preach
12 upvotes
Amber A.
glad someone said it
8 upvotes
Zoey Cooper
I've lived in Greenfield for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- The school system scene is tough
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Good luck with whatever you decide..
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- The school system scene is tough
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Isla
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much competitive but now it's hit or miss.
7 upvotes
Brian F.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
7 upvotes
Alexa S.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to San Diego it's average.
6 upvotes
Gianna James
honestly same experience here
6 upvotes
Elizabeth Bennett
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
5 upvotes
Amy W.
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The school system scene is decent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The school system scene is decent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
4 upvotes
Owen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 24, moved here 1 years ago from Denver. I've lived in South and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 24, moved here 1 years ago from Denver. I've lived in South and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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