Hello, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and The median home value here is around $586,700, which is pretty steep. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much.
49 upvotes
40 Replies
Aurora Ruiz
accurate
40 upvotes
Naomi Cook
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
40 upvotes
Hannah R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 13 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is average - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Katherine
literally same
39 upvotes
Allison King
lol so true
35 upvotes
Hazel
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 49, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in East and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
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. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Houston, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
34 upvotes
Julian Turner
thanks for sharing
32 upvotes
grace_kid
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Boston it's challenging.
32 upvotes
Quinn K.
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: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in finance. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
31 upvotes
Wesley Taylor
I work in marketing here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is better than expected. Happy to answer more specific questions..
31 upvotes
lake_bennett5
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Vivian S.
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
29 upvotes
genesis_mind
Came here for school and stayed because it was the best decision I ever made. The public transit is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Gabriel Gomez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 26, moved here 9 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The public transit situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Nashville, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K 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.
27 upvotes
Benjamin G.
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much developing but now it's better than expected.
26 upvotes
Helen G.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
26 upvotes
brooklyn_chef
yep
26 upvotes
Julian Miller
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Austin about 11 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are stable, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Everett
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
22 upvotes
denverrider2021
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 4 years. Moved from Nashville for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are solid. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
Skylar Brooks
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely excellent and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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
Savannah A.
this is the way
20 upvotes
Clara White
I've lived in North for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Close to major attractions
- The cultural scene scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
17 upvotes
Ariana Patel
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much manageable but now it's decent.
16 upvotes
Nathan Bennett
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is underrated in most areas.
15 upvotes
Charlotte Hall
thanks for sharing
14 upvotes
Adeline Lopez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is food scene. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
13 upvotes
Andrew Miller
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Houston about 4 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are growing, gas is tough.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
James O.
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
12 upvotes
Paul M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely tough and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Downtown) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
12 upvotes
Melanie L.
as a local I can confirm
10 upvotes
Sarah Richardson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 29, moved here 8 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Old Town and Westside, 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. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The walkability situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 San Diego, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$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.
9 upvotes
boston_aurora
100%
8 upvotes
Roman Peterson
I'm a HR manager and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
7 upvotes
Bennett Wilson
I've lived in Riverside for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The food scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
7 upvotes
Eleanor Hall
yeah no that's not right
4 upvotes
Maya Mitchell
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
3 upvotes
Greyson Clark
I've lived in Riverside for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- The dating scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
3 upvotes
real_lily96
been saying this for years
3 upvotes
Natalie Wood
Bought a house here in 2018 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
All Countries
