Been meaning to ask this. Born and raised here. Average temperature is around 47--F, so expect cold winters. Household incomes average around $74,375 in Kent City. The city has invested a lot in new development. Any advice would be great.
10 upvotes
12 Replies
Hannah S.
thanks for sharing
38 upvotes
Colton Ramos
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 43, moved here 1 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The traffic situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Phoenix, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$90K 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.
36 upvotes
Zoey Patel
yeah no that's not right
35 upvotes
Stella G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 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 East. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
32 upvotes
Cora Wright
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
30 upvotes
Aurora Parker
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Atlanta about 10 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are growing, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Kennedy
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Greenfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in government. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Definitely worth checking out..
23 upvotes
Robert Long
haha yep pretty much
20 upvotes
Brooks Green
+1
18 upvotes
Ian Baker
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in The Heights area are underrated. Kids love it here.
8 upvotes
Zoe H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 48, moved here 10 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Lakewood and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K 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.
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