Alright, The median home value here is around $298,700, which seems about average. Median household income is $70,647, which feels about average for the area. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Worth the trade-offs? Any help is appreciated. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
12 upvotes
19 Replies
Sebastian
good to know, thanks
40 upvotes
Isabelle Thomas
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
38 upvotes
Dylan
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
36 upvotes
Landon Jackson
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much wild but now it's excellent.
34 upvotes
Ariana Allen
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
32 upvotes
Sophia G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Riverside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Weston Taylor
Bought a house here in 2018 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
28 upvotes
nycchef2022
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Vietnamese places. the quality of life is solid.
25 upvotes
Kennedy Lee
bump
23 upvotes
Sadie Phillips
accurate
21 upvotes
Naomi
underrated comment
20 upvotes
living_adeline19
preach
18 upvotes
Santiago Wilson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely pretty good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
13 upvotes
Leo Morris
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The pet-friendliness is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
12 upvotes
Jack
Bought a house here in 2021 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
10 upvotes
Jordan Gonzalez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 47, moved here 10 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Maple Ridge and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The job market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. underrated 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K 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.
8 upvotes
Brooks Young
hmm interesting perspective
8 upvotes
William Ramos
yeah no that's not right
7 upvotes
Zoe Morgan
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great seafood places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
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