Hey folks, We have two kids and It's a a smaller city city with about 39,434 people. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Would love some local perspective. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
1 upvotes
5 Replies
Melanie Mendoza
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 51, moved here 1 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Uptown and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited shopping options
3. The weather situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. better than expected 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K 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.
33 upvotes
Caleb Clark
wish I knew this sooner
28 upvotes
Jeremiah Ramirez
I work in consulting here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is average. No regrets on my end..
21 upvotes
Asher R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Asian.
No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
Christian Patel
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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