Hi all, I'm single, late 40s, and Poverty rate is 25.3%, which is higher than I expected. Homes are going for about $618,400 on average. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $618,400, which is pretty steep. Household incomes average around $57,576 in Lakewood. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
Pros:
- Growing food scene
- Good schools
- Lots of new development
- Good healthcare facilities
Cons:
- Traffic can be terrible
- Limited public transit
- Sprawl everywhere
- High property taxes
- Poor road conditions
What do you all think? Thanks for reading. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
19 upvotes
27 Replies
Carter Gomez
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
40 upvotes
tucsongirl2026
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The outdoor recreation scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
40 upvotes
Eli Cruz
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
39 upvotes
Greyson Collins
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Daniel Nelson
I've lived in Midtown for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
- The community vibe scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
36 upvotes
Elizabeth
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 46, moved here 14 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Pine Hills and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The traffic situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Chicago, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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
Victoria Lopez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
32 upvotes
Everly Miller
facts
32 upvotes
Mia
couldn't agree more
31 upvotes
urban_hudson57
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much established but now it's challenging.
27 upvotes
Elijah Long
This.
26 upvotes
Aiden Gomez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 33, moved here 15 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for families. surprisingly good 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 Phoenix, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K 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.
25 upvotes
Jameson F.
I've lived in Eastside for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Elena R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 6 years. Moved from Charlotte for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are hit or miss. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Can feel isolated. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
omaha_jaxon
bump
24 upvotes
Leah Scott
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
17 upvotes
Emilia E.
exactly what I was thinking
16 upvotes
Sarah Rodriguez
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much established but now it's improving.
16 upvotes
Audrey Price
wish I knew this sooner
15 upvotes
Aria Jones
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 26, moved here 2 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Lakewood and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K 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.
14 upvotes
Jordan Gonzalez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
10 upvotes
Lucas R.
+1
9 upvotes
Genesis G.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
6 upvotes
Kai Edwards
interesting, hadn't considered that
4 upvotes
Cameron Wright
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Oak Park area are challenging. Kids love it here.
2 upvotes
Liam Walker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 11 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
Jameson Cruz
I work in consulting here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is tough. Hope this helps!.
All Countries
