First post here. Just moved here 1 months ago and The median home value here is around $239,200, which is actually reasonable. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Would love some local perspective. Cheers. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
16 upvotes
27 Replies
Leo Patel
I've lived in Lakewood for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Lots of new development happening
- The school system scene is solid
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Reagan Morgan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Maple Ridge. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
37 upvotes
Ian Gonzalez
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Mexican places. it was the best decision I ever made.
36 upvotes
Ruby Jackson
literally same
34 upvotes
Mia Hall
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in Highland area are decent. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Roger M.
Used to live on the North side, now on the Sunset side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
32 upvotes
Angel Castillo
thanks for sharing
27 upvotes
Victoria Williams
Bought a house here in 2023 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
26 upvotes
Santiago Rivera
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
26 upvotes
Maya Bailey
I'm a project manager and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Scarlett Thomas
100%
21 upvotes
Jameson Scott
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much manageable but now it's decent.
21 upvotes
Logan Wood
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is excellent in most areas.
21 upvotes
Colton Carter
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 54, moved here 13 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Highland and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. pretty good 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 Francisco, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
21 upvotes
Sofia
accurate
20 upvotes
local_theodore86
Moved here from Charlotte about 14 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to job market but Feel free to reach out with questions..
17 upvotes
Eliana Morris
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The dating scene is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
jaxon_rider
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 2 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
16 upvotes
Piper Price
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Atlanta about 9 years ago. The main reasons were weather and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are pricey, gas is tough.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Hope this helps!.
15 upvotes
Sadie Phillips
hard disagree but ok
15 upvotes
Parker Edwards
100%
15 upvotes
Daniel Edwards
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 38, moved here 8 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Downtown and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The safety situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Boston, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K 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.
10 upvotes
David K.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely excellent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Riverside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
10 upvotes
Ruth N.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely better than expected and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Uptown) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
7 upvotes
Abigail
good to know, thanks
6 upvotes
Robert Howard
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
5 upvotes
Katherine Martinez
I've lived in The Heights for about 14 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 Atlanta, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- The safety scene is tough
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Good luck with whatever you decide..
All Countries
