Been meaning to ask this. The median home value here is around $618,400, which is pretty steep. Crime rate is something to consider -Lakewood sits at 36.9 per 100K. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Worth the trade-offs? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
30 upvotes
6 Replies
James Martinez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
36 upvotes
Robert R.
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
30 upvotes
Ryan Howard
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 58, moved here 5 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for retirees. hit or miss 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 Denver, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
27 upvotes
Silas Stewart
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Denver it's excellent.
21 upvotes
Naomi Brown
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Uptown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Asian.
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