Longtime lurker here, I'm a teacher here and It's a a small town city with about 21,364 people. Poverty rate is 3.6%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,863/month for a decent place. The unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is pretty low. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Thoughts? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up.
12 upvotes
10 Replies
Peyton Cruz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 48, moved here 4 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for singles. tough 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 Baltimore, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
31 upvotes
Alexa Smith
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.
27 upvotes
Ruby G.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
24 upvotes
Luca
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 26, moved here 8 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Westside and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The housing market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for families. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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.
24 upvotes
Ella Ross
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is solid in most areas.
21 upvotes
Theodore P.
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 9 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to housing market but Happy to answer more specific questions..
19 upvotes
Emilia Miller
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in The Heights. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
15 upvotes
Sofia Gutierrez
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in Uptown area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
8 upvotes
Naomi
thanks for sharing
6 upvotes
born_charlotte26
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 45, moved here 3 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Lakewood and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Close to major attractions
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. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Seattle, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
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