Hey everyone, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Would love some local perspective.
10 upvotes
14 Replies
Logan Ramos
I've been living here for 6 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The public transit is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
38 upvotes
Kai Ortiz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 55, moved here 6 years ago from LA. I've lived in Sunset and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The nightlife situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for families. challenging 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 LA, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
35 upvotes
Aurora E.
I'm a software engineer and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is average and there's always something going on.
29 upvotes
Easton R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Maple Ridge. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Hope this helps!.
28 upvotes
Ariana G.
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
26 upvotes
Carter Carter
yep
23 upvotes
Landon Chavez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Riverside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene 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.
20 upvotes
Kenneth R.
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in West area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
19 upvotes
real_ruby35
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Fairview area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Samuel Williams
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from San Francisco about 3 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are wild, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Riley Rodriguez
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great craft beer places. it exceeded my expectations.
4 upvotes
Aaliyah Robinson
Can confirm, been here 11 years.
4 upvotes
Valentina R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in tech. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
3 upvotes
Emily Gutierrez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Westside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in retail. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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