Curious what people think. Just moved here 2 months ago and Median household income is $63,874, which feels about average for the area. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Would love some local perspective. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
49 upvotes
10 Replies
William
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
39 upvotes
brielle_mind
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in The Heights area are challenging. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Jacob Perez
nah I disagree
32 upvotes
Hudson
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Korean places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
22 upvotes
Carson Gomez
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much wild but now it's excellent.
20 upvotes
Serenity S.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 9 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Deborah R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 9 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
10 upvotes
Benjamin Murphy
100%
7 upvotes
Arianna G.
seconding this
5 upvotes
Levi J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 25, moved here 3 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The food scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. tough 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 Chicago, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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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