Random thought, You can expect to pay around $826 for rent here. Rent is about $826/month for a decent place. The suburbs are where most families end up. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Would love some local perspective.
14 upvotes
16 Replies
Hannah T.
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. Hope this helps!.
39 upvotes
Stella Sanchez
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
39 upvotes
Scarlett Jones
this is the way
36 upvotes
Skylar C.
Bought a house here in 2017 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone about the same since then.
34 upvotes
Sebastian Ramos
I've lived in Lakewood for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- The school system scene is average
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Hope this helps!.
31 upvotes
atl_john
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 7 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
dc_leo
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is average in most areas.
26 upvotes
native_jeremiah7
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the Sunset side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
24 upvotes
Evan Roberts
I work in legal here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is better than expected. Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Daniel Williams
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Houston it's underrated.
21 upvotes
Julian Smith
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 11 years. Moved from Dallas for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2018 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:**
retail is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset schools are pretty good. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Urban sprawl is real. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Emily
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in consulting. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
11 upvotes
James R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Hope this helps!.
10 upvotes
Brielle Alvarez
I work in education here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
Camila Jones
not my experience at all
4 upvotes
Katherine Richardson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Salt Lake City 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 underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
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