Hey folks, My partner and I are It's a a smaller city city with about 59,389 people. Property taxes are high but you get good services. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Thoughts? It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
21 upvotes
28 Replies
Theodore R.
Saving this thread
38 upvotes
Connor R.
as a local I can confirm
32 upvotes
lucas_mind
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 3 years. Moved from Miami for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have lakes 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 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. Limited shopping options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Evan Young
exactly what I was thinking
31 upvotes
Naomi
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The dating scene is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
Gabriella Mitchell
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great seafood places. it was the best decision I ever made.
30 upvotes
Easton Gray
Moved here last year, no regrets.
28 upvotes
Isabelle Gray
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
28 upvotes
Charlotte Anderson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Hope this helps!.
28 upvotes
Alexa Taylor
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely improving and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Highland) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
27 upvotes
Victoria Nguyen
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 6 years. Moved from Atlanta for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown schools are decent. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Nightlife is limited. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Gabriel Hughes
I've lived in Riverside for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The weather scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
21 upvotes
Aurora Morgan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 52, moved here 8 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The safety situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$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.
21 upvotes
Elena Gonzalez
lol so true
21 upvotes
Eleanor H.
Moved here from San Francisco about 5 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to healthcare but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
real_bella44
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
15 upvotes
Delilah Price
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
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.
13 upvotes
Declan
as a local I can confirm
12 upvotes
cool_isabelle32
following this thread
11 upvotes
Kaylee W.
as a local I can confirm
10 upvotes
Michael G.
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
10 upvotes
Katherine Jackson
spot on
10 upvotes
Serenity Jones
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
8 upvotes
Everett Sanders
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The cultural scene is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
8 upvotes
sacramentofan2025
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
7 upvotes
Luke J.
100%
7 upvotes
Henry Campbell
good to know, thanks
2 upvotes
Sarah Harris
I've lived in Downtown for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- The dating scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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