Alright, Homes are going for about $314,200 on average. It's a a smaller city city with about 90,646 people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Should I be concerned? Cheers. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
28 upvotes
29 Replies
Noah Gutierrez
facts
39 upvotes
Grayson W.
Moved here from Chicago about 2 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to weather but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
39 upvotes
Audrey Price
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is tough in most areas.
37 upvotes
Jacob Gutierrez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Chicago about 15 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is tough.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
lake_natalie79
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 8 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Ezra Anderson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is decent in most areas.
31 upvotes
Adrian Brown
Moved here from Chicago about 15 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to cultural scene but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Parker Brown
Moved here last year, no regrets.
28 upvotes
Evan Hill
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 7 years. Moved from Austin for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2023 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. South schools are better than expected. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Homeless population growing downtown. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Zoe H.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 6 years. Moved from Portland for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Cedar Grove schools are hit or miss. 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. Winters are long and cold. Far from beaches/mountains. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
henry_heart
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
24 upvotes
Aurora B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in education. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Skylar Anderson
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Meadowbrook area are excellent. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
Nicholas Rivera
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 5 years. Moved from New York for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. retail 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:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. 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. South schools are underrated. 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. Bugs and humidity in summer. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
20 upvotes
Claire Martin
+1
18 upvotes
Addison Rodriguez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
native_skylar95
Bought a house here in 2021 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
14 upvotes
river_zoe29
glad someone said it
14 upvotes
Timothy M.
Used to live on the West side, now on the Pine Hills side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
13 upvotes
Luna
interesting, hadn't considered that
13 upvotes
desert_amelia89
hmm interesting perspective
9 upvotes
Christian Sanchez
spot on
9 upvotes
Scarlett L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 15 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
madelyn_mind
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
7 upvotes
Maya Walker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 6 years. Moved from Houston for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have mountains 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 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. Homeless population growing downtown. Limited entertainment options. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Nevaeh Ruiz
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
6 upvotes
Emma Lewis
Came here for family and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The walkability is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
5 upvotes
Luke Martinez
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The school system is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
5 upvotes
Hailey Howard
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much developing but now it's hit or miss.
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