My partner and I are Homes are going for about $532,300 on average. It's a a mid-size city city with about 111K people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The weather takes some getting used to. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
4 upvotes
5 Replies
Sadie Bennett
underrated comment
38 upvotes
tampa_wyatt
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
Emily 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 13 years. Moved from Tampa for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. real estate 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:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is tough - we have desert landscapes 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 pretty good. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Can feel isolated. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
27 upvotes
Sophia Sanchez
honestly same experience here
8 upvotes
Melanie Wood
Moved here from San Francisco about 13 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to nightlife but Feel free to reach out with questions..
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