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Hazel
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Starting a business in Lakewood?
So, With a population of 50,229, Lakewood is a smaller city.
26 upvotes
26 Replies
Grace R.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
38 upvotes
Ethan
Came here for retirement and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The cost of living is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
38 upvotes
Elizabeth G.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
34 upvotes
Everly Hughes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 32, moved here 6 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in South and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Active local events and festivals
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. Road conditions need improvement
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cultural scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 San Diego, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 32, moved here 6 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in South and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Active local events and festivals
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. Road conditions need improvement
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cultural scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 San Diego, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
34 upvotes
Logan
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Greenfield area are challenging. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
Jace Allen
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to San Francisco it's hit or miss.
26 upvotes
Eva Lewis
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 5 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is decent.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 5 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is decent.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
26 upvotes
Sarah Allen
Saving this thread
25 upvotes
portland_allison
hard disagree but ok
24 upvotes
Kayden
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 3 years. Moved from Raleigh for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. tech 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'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are improving. 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. Winters are long and cold. Dating scene is rough. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Eastside for 3 years. Moved from Raleigh for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. tech 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'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are improving. 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. Winters are long and cold. Dating scene is rough. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
sf_delilah
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor recreation is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
Mason Patel
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely decent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Downtown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely decent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Downtown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
16 upvotes
Axel Chavez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 6 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 6 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Nevaeh Harris
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
15 upvotes
Eliana Davis
I've lived in Sunset for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- The dating scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- The dating scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Emily G.
Bought a house here in 2017 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
12 upvotes
Samuel Wood
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great craft beer places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
11 upvotes
Leah Bennett
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much affordable but now it's challenging.
10 upvotes
Luca Kim
I'm a lawyer and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
10 upvotes
Lily Robinson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
Luca Mendoza
big facts right here
7 upvotes
Ella L.
I'm a marketing manager and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes
Delilah Stewart
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
6 upvotes
Madelyn Ramos
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in marketing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in marketing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
3 upvotes
Adrian Parker
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Vietnamese places. I love the pace of life here.
2 upvotes
Isabella W.
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Vietnamese places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
1 upvotes