Hey, The median home value here is around $534,500, which is pretty steep. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
28 upvotes
26 Replies
Henry Wright
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Nashville about 15 years ago. The main reasons were school and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is improving.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
40 upvotes
Ruth T.
great question, following
40 upvotes
Charlotte Scott
I've lived in Lakewood for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Lots of new development happening
- The housing market scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
40 upvotes
Eliana
Bought a house here in 2020 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
39 upvotes
Nevaeh C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 40, moved here 8 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Westside and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. average vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Raleigh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
36 upvotes
Ethan Gonzalez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Boston about 4 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is average.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
34 upvotes
Hunter Bennett
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely underrated and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Springfield) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
34 upvotes
Violet Lewis
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 7 years. Moved from Portland for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. tech 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 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. Uptown 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. Can feel isolated. Dating scene is rough. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Daniel Davis
hard disagree but ok
30 upvotes
Jackson Hall
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely decent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Old Town) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic 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.
29 upvotes
Aubrey Ruiz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 15 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. 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 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is surprisingly 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. The Heights 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. Limited shopping options. Homeless population growing downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
stl_logan
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Dallas about 4 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- Decent public transit for the size
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are growing, gas is decent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Nora Turner
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
22 upvotes
ruby_life
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 36, moved here 4 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in South and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Limited shopping options
3. The food scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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
minneapolispapa2020
+1
19 upvotes
Logan J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
Kayden S.
I work in legal here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is decent. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
15 upvotes
Hazel
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 6 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Hailey
noted, appreciate it
14 upvotes
Camila
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
13 upvotes
Julia A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from San Francisco 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 Meadowbrook. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in finance. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Katherine Richardson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 24, moved here 3 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in East and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 San Diego, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
10 upvotes
Beverly W.
yep
5 upvotes
wild_hunter75
literally same
4 upvotes
Eli Howard
I've lived in Oak Park for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Chicago, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Four distinct seasons
- The pet-friendliness scene is tough
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
3 upvotes
real_austin18
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
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