Hey, Average temperature is around 65--F, so the weather is moderate. Rent is about $1,771/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $661,100, which is pretty steep. With a population of 77,396, Bellflower is a smaller city. The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The suburbs are where most families end up. Worth the trade-offs? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
7 upvotes
28 Replies
David M.
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Pine Hills side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
39 upvotes
Scarlett W.
glad someone said it
39 upvotes
Jacob Lewis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 36, moved here 2 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Riverside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The weather situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. better than expected 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 manageable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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
Miles C.
this is the way
36 upvotes
Kai Moore
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The safety is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
36 upvotes
Ellie A.
I'm a data analyst and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
35 upvotes
Isaiah
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Denver it's improving.
32 upvotes
greyson_local
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
nycdude2022
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
31 upvotes
Skylar Flores
not my experience at all
30 upvotes
river_axel20
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to Phoenix it's underrated.
28 upvotes
alexa_local
same here
25 upvotes
Luca Young
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
20 upvotes
Hunter Roberts
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Jonathan Alvarez
following this thread
18 upvotes
Lori Y.
facts
15 upvotes
Grace Gutierrez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
15 upvotes
Roman Bailey
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
14 upvotes
tampa_ian
wish I knew this sooner
13 upvotes
Sophie Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Westside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Grace Turner
Bought a house here in 2015 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
11 upvotes
Maya Davis
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from New York 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 Maple Ridge. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Gregory G.
facts
7 upvotes
Brooklyn Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
6 upvotes
Leonardo Foster
accurate
4 upvotes
Willow Morris
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
2 upvotes
Kayden Ross
I've lived in Lakewood for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- The food scene scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Happy to answer more specific questions..
1 upvotes
Maya Clark
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. No regrets on my end..
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