All Countries
Donna J.
living
Leesburg quality of life -am I missing something?
Anyone else feel this way? I grew up here but left for a while.
27 upvotes
17 Replies
Nolan Stewart
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Sunset. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Sunset. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
lafan2021
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 7 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
I've been here 7 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
34 upvotes
Anna Robinson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 7 years. Moved from Minneapolis for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Midtown schools are underrated. 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. Rising rent and home prices. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Midtown for 7 years. Moved from Minneapolis for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Midtown schools are underrated. 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. Rising rent and home prices. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Caroline Ruiz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Good luck with whatever you decide..
34 upvotes
Ella W.
literally same
30 upvotes
Cooper Jimenez
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
28 upvotes
Emma Davis
Moved here from LA about 13 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but Good luck with whatever you decide..
24 upvotes
Lisa C.
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
23 upvotes
landon_runner
+1
23 upvotes
omaha_leah
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Mackenzie Kim
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
16 upvotes
Emily Gutierrez
couldn't agree more
15 upvotes
lake_kai53
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
13 upvotes
Leonardo Bailey
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 4 years. Moved from Raleigh for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2018 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. retail 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 genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have hiking trails 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 surprisingly good. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Limited entertainment options. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Lakewood for 4 years. Moved from Raleigh for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2018 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. retail 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 genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have hiking trails 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 surprisingly good. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Limited entertainment options. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Adam
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Highland. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Highland. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
0 upvotes
Wyatt Rogers
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
0 upvotes
Eleanor
wish I knew this sooner
0 upvotes