Anyone else feel this way? Born and raised here. The unemployment rate is 1.8%, which is pretty low. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Am I overthinking this? Property taxes are high but you get good services. The suburbs are where most families end up. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
13 upvotes
27 Replies
Scarlett Smith
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
39 upvotes
Austin T.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
36 upvotes
Santiago Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 46, moved here 13 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The safety situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for young professionals. tough vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Dallas, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K 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
Landon
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Gianna Campbell
Came here for quality of life and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The pet-friendliness is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
Axel
accurate
31 upvotes
Everett Murphy
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much stable but now it's excellent.
29 upvotes
Luna Wright
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 40, moved here 10 years ago from New York. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for retirees. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 New York, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
26 upvotes
Carol R.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
25 upvotes
Grace
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 41, moved here 6 years ago from Denver. I've lived in West and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: 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 Denver, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
24 upvotes
Joshua Brown
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Close to major attractions
- The job market scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
24 upvotes
Elijah Ruiz
following this thread
24 upvotes
Violet Kelly
underrated comment
22 upvotes
Anna R.
I'm a chef and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
20 upvotes
Camila K.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Ella S.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
17 upvotes
Grayson Clark
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. Happy to answer more specific questions..
17 upvotes
milwaukeemind2025
Bought a house here in 2022 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
15 upvotes
William Lee
hmm interesting perspective
15 upvotes
Madeline Martin
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Dallas about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Definitely worth checking out..
13 upvotes
sf_hudson
This.
12 upvotes
Janet H.
been saying this for years
10 upvotes
Leah H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 27, moved here 8 years ago from New York. I've lived in Westside and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Can feel isolated
3. The job market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for remote workers. underrated 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 New York, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$110K 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.
9 upvotes
Caleb B.
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 excellent and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Fairview) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
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.
9 upvotes
Madeline Allen
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in Sunset area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
3 upvotes
Landon Thompson
lol so true
3 upvotes
Isaiah Miller
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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