Poverty rate is 7.8%, which is pretty low. With a population of 57,088, Lacey is a smaller city. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
23 upvotes
19 Replies
Jaxon Ramirez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is average in most areas.
38 upvotes
Betty H.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Portland about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is challenging.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
Virginia M.
I work in tech here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is improving. Hope this helps!.
37 upvotes
Elena Thomas
following this thread
36 upvotes
Matthew L.
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
35 upvotes
Anna Bennett
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 12 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
34 upvotes
Jaxon P.
This.
32 upvotes
Alexa Kim
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 25, moved here 2 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Fairview and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. excellent 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 Portland, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K 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.
30 upvotes
phoenixheart2025
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in retail. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
30 upvotes
Jessica R.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is underrated in most areas.
29 upvotes
dallas_jayden
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in construction. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
25 upvotes
Willow Ruiz
+1
24 upvotes
jaxkid2025
I've lived in Fairview for about 9 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 Nashville, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- The community vibe scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
24 upvotes
Lydia M.
Moved here from Raleigh about 8 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to traffic but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
21 upvotes
Wyatt C.
I've lived in Highland for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
21 upvotes
Joseph N.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 7 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into running, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
16 upvotes
Lydia Howard
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
Noah C.
I work in construction here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is tough. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
6 upvotes
Cora K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 24, moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
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. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The school system situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$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.
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