Hi all, I grew up here but left for a while. Median household income is $85,789, which feels pretty solid for the area. With a population of 156K, Lakewood is a mid-size city. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Is this normal for Lakewood?
51 upvotes
6 Replies
Angel Alvarez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely excellent and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Old Town) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. school system 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.
31 upvotes
fresno_autumn
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 15 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
23 upvotes
Aaron Baker
facts
21 upvotes
Grayson Kelly
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much wild but now it's improving.
20 upvotes
Judith L.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is challenging in most areas.
13 upvotes
Aurora C.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
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