Best companies to work for in Forest?

Caleb Perez Apr 8, 2026

I work in legal here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..

28 upvotes

Sophie White Apr 4, 2026

OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a teacher, 35, moved here 15 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Lakewood and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K 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.

23 upvotes