The unemployment rate is 1.0%, which is pretty low. Average temperature is around 51--F, so expect cold winters. It's a a small town city with about 10,625 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Does this match your experience? Thanks! The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The suburbs are where most families end up. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
12 upvotes
12 Replies
Aiden Price
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much wild but now it's decent.
38 upvotes
wild_ezekiel38
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
38 upvotes
landon_walker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 48, moved here 3 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Maple Ridge and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The nightlife situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for retirees. solid vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 wild. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K 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.
37 upvotes
Lillian White
underrated comment
36 upvotes
Rylee H.
I'm a electrician and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
35 upvotes
Camila R.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Daniel Reed
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
28 upvotes
Nova Sanchez
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
24 upvotes
Wesley Robinson
couldn't agree more
13 upvotes
Benjamin Brooks
honestly same experience here
9 upvotes
Kaylee Castillo
wish I knew this sooner
7 upvotes
mesa_harper
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in tech. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
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