Hey everyone, Median household income is $130,680, which feels pretty solid for the area. Poverty rate is 4.4%, which is pretty low. Crime rate is something to consider -Draper sits at 140.5 per 100K. Homes are going for about $726,000 on average. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Has anyone dealt with this? Appreciate any input. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The weather takes some getting used to.
16 upvotes
22 Replies
Eli J.
spot on
38 upvotes
Evan R.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Miami it's solid.
37 upvotes
Jeremiah Gutierrez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
34 upvotes
Leah Kim
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 13 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 Seattle, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The safety scene is improving
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
29 upvotes
Savannah Wright
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in tech. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
28 upvotes
Leo Garcia
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Raleigh 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 Meadowbrook. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
28 upvotes
Connor
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
26 upvotes
Clara Foster
nah I disagree
21 upvotes
Bella W.
this is the way
20 upvotes
clara_papa
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
18 upvotes
Zoe
This.
18 upvotes
Matthew Anderson
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
Scarlett Hughes
hard disagree but ok
13 upvotes
Eli Nguyen
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Tampa it's tough.
13 upvotes
true_claire51
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
13 upvotes
Ariana Brown
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Eastside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
12 upvotes
Nova S.
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
11 upvotes
Cameron Gutierrez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 15 years. Moved from San Diego for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. retail 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:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have hiking 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 challenging. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
6 upvotes
Audrey Hughes
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
2 upvotes
Savannah Moore
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 10 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
2 upvotes
Jonathan Lopez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 11 years. Moved from Baltimore for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. North schools are underrated. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Homeless population growing downtown. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
0 upvotes
Stella Mitchell
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Downtown area are excellent. Kids love it here.
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