Longtime lurker here, I'm a remote worker and Homes are going for about $258,900 on average. Poverty rate is 8.2%, which is pretty low. The weather takes some getting used to. Worth the trade-offs? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The suburbs are where most families end up.
7 upvotes
28 Replies
declan_mama
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Lillian Turner
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great seafood places. it's been a really good experience overall.
39 upvotes
Jackson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
37 upvotes
Vivian Turner
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much established but now it's improving.
35 upvotes
Jeremy H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 48, moved here 3 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in North and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The dating scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for singles. average 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 Seattle, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K 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.
35 upvotes
Nora Price
hard disagree but ok
34 upvotes
Valentina R.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
33 upvotes
Daniel W.
yep
31 upvotes
Rachel K.
I'm a HR manager and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
31 upvotes
Everly Murphy
I'm a nurse and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Katherine Richardson
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
21 upvotes
waylon_guy
literally same
20 upvotes
Valentina King
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. Definitely worth checking out..
19 upvotes
Caleb Wilson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 54, moved here 11 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Old Town and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The job market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for remote workers. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Baltimore, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K 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.
17 upvotes
Aubrey P.
lol so true
17 upvotes
Nora Reed
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
17 upvotes
Nora Nelson
following this thread
16 upvotes
Sophia Gray
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Cedar Grove area are underrated. Kids love it here.
16 upvotes
Waylon Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Fairview. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in construction. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
16 upvotes
Hannah A.
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Maple Ridge area are underrated. Kids love it here.
15 upvotes
William James
Can confirm, been here 3 years.
15 upvotes
Zoey S.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
12 upvotes
Christian Kim
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
Scarlett
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is challenging in most areas.
8 upvotes
Ella Jimenez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely solid and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (South) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
7 upvotes
Jacob Cox
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
5 upvotes
Violet
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The school system scene is improving
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
5 upvotes
Peyton B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 32, moved here 7 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Uptown and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for singles. pretty good 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 Denver, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
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