I'm a college student here and It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much.
19 upvotes
12 Replies
Kai Moore
it depends on the neighborhood
37 upvotes
Adam C.
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The walkability is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
34 upvotes
Megan H.
been saying this for years
31 upvotes
Ezra N.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Sophie Mitchell
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
Audrey Campbell
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Isaiah Thomas
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely average and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (East) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Homeless population growing downtown.
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.
20 upvotes
Joshua M.
I work in tech here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Anna Morris
I'm a project manager and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is average and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Jayden Jimenez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Caleb Taylor
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is decent in most areas.
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