I'm a remote worker and Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Am I wrong here? The suburbs are where most families end up.
2 upvotes
26 Replies
silas_life
seconding this
39 upvotes
Angel Lopez
underrated comment
36 upvotes
Caroline
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 4 years. Moved from Miami for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. real estate 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 been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have biking trails 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 average. 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. Nightlife is limited. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Colton Young
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare 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.
35 upvotes
Axel Adams
seconding this
35 upvotes
Lucas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Isaac Lewis
exactly what I was thinking
34 upvotes
Kaylee R.
as a local I can confirm
34 upvotes
Ezekiel G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Denver 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 Lakewood. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in education. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
31 upvotes
Declan Murphy
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in consulting. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Johnny K.
glad someone said it
30 upvotes
Daniel H.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely hit or miss and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Riverside) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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
Caroline Brown
facts
24 upvotes
David B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
17 upvotes
Ronald R.
I work in legal here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is pretty good. Definitely worth checking out..
14 upvotes
Katherine Rodriguez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 2 years. Moved from LA for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. hospitality 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 improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are pretty 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. Winters are long and cold. Limited high-paying job options. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
11 upvotes
Julia Mitchell
I've lived in Downtown for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Diverse dining options
- The healthcare scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Ian T.
yeah no that's not right
10 upvotes
Elena Thompson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Tampa about 14 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
8 upvotes
Aria Morales
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The job market scene is average
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Harold K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 38, moved here 9 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in East and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Can feel isolated
3. The public transit situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for young professionals. surprisingly good 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
5 upvotes
Shirley N.
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
5 upvotes
Landon Gutierrez
Used to live on the North side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
4 upvotes
Claire Bailey
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 2 years. Moved from Baltimore for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2018 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside 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. Dating scene is rough. Limited entertainment options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
1 upvotes
Madeline Morris
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is underrated in most areas.
0 upvotes
Eva Peterson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 13 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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