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Aria Ward
living
What I wish I knew before living in Kirkland
First post here. You can expect to pay around $2,342 for rent here.
9 upvotes
30 Replies
Caleb Miller
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The safety is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
39 upvotes
Levi Martin
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
Leo J.
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Isla Richardson
Bought a house here in 2019 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone about the same since then.
36 upvotes
Aaliyah Gray
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
36 upvotes
Piper D.
yep
35 upvotes
Adrian Rogers
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
33 upvotes
Aiden Gray
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in tech. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in tech. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Ruby Davis
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
32 upvotes
Brooklyn C.
exactly what I was thinking
31 upvotes
Skylar Ortiz
Bought a house here in 2022 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
31 upvotes
Liam G.
Can confirm, been here 3 years.
30 upvotes
Allison Hernandez
I've lived in Meadowbrook for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- The nightlife scene is solid
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- The nightlife scene is solid
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Julia Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Eastside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Eastside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Reagan
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Vietnamese places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
26 upvotes
Melanie Castillo
Used to live on the North side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
21 upvotes
Elijah Phillips
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
18 upvotes
Austin Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 34, moved here 8 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Greenfield and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Denver, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 34, moved here 8 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Greenfield and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Denver, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
17 upvotes
Luna Phillips
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 24, moved here 8 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Old Town and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Seattle, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K 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.
Background: I'm a chef, 24, moved here 8 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Old Town and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Seattle, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K 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.
12 upvotes
Quinn Perez
Saving this thread
12 upvotes
Isaac Cox
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
9 upvotes
Jack Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 35, moved here 14 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Westside and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Property taxes are high
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Austin, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 35, moved here 14 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Westside and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Property taxes are high
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Austin, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
8 upvotes
Isabella Smith
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
7 upvotes
Rylee Mitchell
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Eastside. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in construction. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Eastside. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in construction. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
5 upvotes
Jonathan Carter
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The traffic scene is average
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The traffic scene is average
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
5 upvotes
Matthew M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 13 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 13 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
Colton
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The walkability is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
4 upvotes
Violet Hernandez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
3 upvotes
Owen
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 5 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to school system but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
1 upvotes
Mason G.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
1 upvotes