Anyone else feel this way? I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Household incomes average around $84,811 in La Puente. It's a a smaller city city with about 37,404 people. Homes are going for about $593,200 on average. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
Pros:
- Friendly people
- Nice parks and trails
- Easy commute
- Lots of new development
Cons:
- Not very walkable
- Few job opportunities in some fields
- Limited cultural events
Has anyone dealt with this? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
0 upvotes
27 Replies
lake_benjamin34
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much established but now it's excellent.
38 upvotes
Skylar Sanchez
I've lived in Greenfield for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Close to major attractions
- Affordable housing options
- The nightlife scene is solid
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
Maya Robinson
glad someone said it
37 upvotes
stl_nicholas
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 45, moved here 2 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Highland and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The walkability situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for retirees. decent 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 Portland, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
34 upvotes
Mateo Davis
good to know, thanks
33 upvotes
Angel F.
yeah no that's not right
32 upvotes
Emma R.
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
28 upvotes
James
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Nashville about 6 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Kayden Stewart
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 33, moved here 12 years ago from Boston. I've lived in East and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The dating scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for young professionals. pretty good 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 Boston, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$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.
26 upvotes
Wesley Castillo
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 14 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
Cora Wilson
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
21 upvotes
Skylar Long
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in tech. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Hope this helps!.
20 upvotes
Alexa
good to know, thanks
19 upvotes
sacramentosoul2021
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Minneapolis it's better than expected.
17 upvotes
weston_kid
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
15 upvotes
angel_soul
hard disagree but ok
12 upvotes
matthew_local
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
12 upvotes
Eli Gonzalez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely improving and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (South) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
11 upvotes
Claire Hill
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
10 upvotes
Brielle T.
glad someone said it
10 upvotes
Cooper Baker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely tough and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (South) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
10 upvotes
Ian E.
couldn't agree more
3 upvotes
Riley Miller
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Portland 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 Lakewood. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in engineering. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
Alice
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 29, moved here 9 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Fairview and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The pet-friendliness situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Baltimore, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
2 upvotes
Serenity Ross
I'm a nurse and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
1 upvotes
Daniel R.
facts
0 upvotes
Declan
I've lived in Sunset for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- The walkability scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
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