Hi all, I grew up here but left for a while. You can expect to pay around $3,145 for rent here. Crime rate is something to consider -El Jebel sits at 25.9 per 100K. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
15 upvotes
15 Replies
Hunter W.
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
38 upvotes
Jack Flores
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Easton Wood
Used to live on the Meadowbrook side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
33 upvotes
Valentina Mitchell
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely solid and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (South) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene 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.
32 upvotes
Nevaeh Hernandez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Cameron H.
noted, appreciate it
27 upvotes
Ian H.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
22 upvotes
Kaylee L.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Boston it's decent.
20 upvotes
Jason C.
bump
16 upvotes
Madelyn 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 11 years. Moved from Phoenix for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - 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. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Can feel isolated. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
11 upvotes
Aubrey Hughes
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
9 upvotes
Madeline Wood
hard disagree but ok
9 upvotes
Sadie Garcia
I've lived in Uptown for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by food scene. 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 housing market scene is tough
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Sadie Martin
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Kinsley M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from Atlanta for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are tough. 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. Property taxes are high. Limited entertainment options. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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