Not sure if this has been asked before, but With a population of 70,650, Lafayette is a smaller city. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What do you all think? People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
6 upvotes
18 Replies
Sofia Lopez
Saving this thread
40 upvotes
Santiago Jones
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
cool_roman64
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Old Town side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
33 upvotes
Theodore Patel
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Kayden Bennett
seconding this
28 upvotes
Jonathan Anderson
underrated comment
26 upvotes
Isla Martin
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great craft beer places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
25 upvotes
alice_mind
nah I disagree
21 upvotes
Oliver Thompson
This.
20 upvotes
Piper Allen
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
Bennett Richardson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 9 years. Moved from San Diego for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Highland schools are excellent. 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 entertainment options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
Santiago Scott
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in The Heights area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
10 upvotes
Levi Rivera
good to know, thanks
10 upvotes
Aria Gonzalez
big facts right here
7 upvotes
Janice R.
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Vietnamese places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
6 upvotes
bostonlife2023
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 Salt Lake City for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have desert landscapes 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 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. Rising rent and home prices. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Claire Carter
Used to live on the East side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
1 upvotes
Chloe Morales
Bought a house here in 2021 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
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