Hey everyone, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and The median home value here is around $335,100, which seems about average. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Worth the trade-offs? Thanks!
17 upvotes
29 Replies
Matthew Myers
Bought a house here in 2024 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
40 upvotes
Evan R.
yeah no that's not right
40 upvotes
Theodore Hall
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Oak Park area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Isla Mitchell
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
37 upvotes
Cora C.
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
36 upvotes
Eva Reyes
yeah no that's not right
36 upvotes
Madeline Jones
Bought a house here in 2022 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
31 upvotes
Leah G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 31, moved here 8 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. solid 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 Portland, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
31 upvotes
Ethan Wright
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 6 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Christian Rogers
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much stable but now it's pretty good.
27 upvotes
Jameson T.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing 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 pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Abigail Nelson
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
24 upvotes
Leah
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
23 upvotes
Daniel D.
I work in hospitality here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is underrated. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Jack Miller
interesting, hadn't considered that
22 upvotes
Wyatt
literally same
21 upvotes
Adam Richardson
noted, appreciate it
19 upvotes
James Thomas
100%
18 upvotes
Camila Morris
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 10 years. Moved from Seattle for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are average. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Can feel isolated. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
miami_john
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Raleigh about 7 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are pricey, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
16 upvotes
Nathan T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely underrated and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Downtown) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
15 upvotes
Alexa Perez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 10 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
13 upvotes
Brooks Rogers
nah I disagree
10 upvotes
Luke Kim
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to Portland it's underrated.
10 upvotes
Paisley Ramos
+1
10 upvotes
Jaxon Murphy
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 3 years. Moved from Seattle for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is solid - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are tough. 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. Limited public transit options. Nightlife is limited. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Oliver M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 35, moved here 1 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Meadowbrook and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The safety situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Boston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
7 upvotes
Aaliyah Diaz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 25, moved here 12 years ago from Austin. I've lived in West and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Diverse dining options
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. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited public transit options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. tough vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Austin, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$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.
6 upvotes
chill_kaylee59
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in West. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in legal. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Asian.
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