Anyone else feel this way? We're a young couple and Median household income is $72,719, which feels about average for the area. Crime rate is something to consider -Hawthorne sits at 728.5 per 100K. It's a a smaller city city with about 85,933 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Should I be concerned? I'd say it's better for families than young singles. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
11 upvotes
26 Replies
loving_stella16
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 12 years. Moved from Chicago for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Lakewood schools are surprisingly 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Winters are long and cold. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Raymond C.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
36 upvotes
Sofia Parker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely excellent and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Limited public transit 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.
33 upvotes
born_rylee41
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 3 years. Moved from LA for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is average - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are challenging. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Far from beaches/mountains. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Emilia Turner
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
33 upvotes
Marie B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 38, moved here 9 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in West and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for remote workers. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
28 upvotes
Adrian W.
this is the way
26 upvotes
Maverick Morales
spot on
24 upvotes
Mia Robinson
glad someone said it
24 upvotes
Ian Smith
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The safety is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Evelyn Ortiz
I've lived in Riverside for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- The public transit scene is decent
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Urban sprawl is real
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
13 upvotes
Caleb Carter
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 14 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
13 upvotes
Eva Ross
glad someone said it
13 upvotes
Anna Howard
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Italian places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
12 upvotes
Colton P.
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
12 upvotes
Kinsley H.
I work in manufacturing here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Colton Davis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 26, moved here 4 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Riverside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
9 upvotes
Henry P.
facts
8 upvotes
Jayden Jones
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in real estate. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
7 upvotes
Dominic K.
same here
7 upvotes
Michael P.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 13 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
7 upvotes
Jack Patel
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
7 upvotes
Janice N.
it depends on the neighborhood
5 upvotes
Joshua
Moved here last year, no regrets.
4 upvotes
Arianna Evans
hmm interesting perspective
0 upvotes
Luna Ruiz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Seattle about 14 years ago. The main reasons were work and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. No regrets on my end..
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