Curious what people think. The unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is pretty low. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. What would you do? Any help is appreciated.
54 upvotes
23 Replies
Thomas Wright
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 38, moved here 15 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Cedar Grove and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Miami, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
39 upvotes
Isla Davis
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
38 upvotes
portlandheart2022
I'm a contractor and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
37 upvotes
Matthew
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
35 upvotes
Angel
hard disagree but ok
34 upvotes
Victoria Hughes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 1 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for quality of life. 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 down slightly 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:**
retail is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have biking trails 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 challenging. 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. Property taxes are high. Dating scene is rough. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Camila C.
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much established but now it's excellent.
33 upvotes
Andrew Evans
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is average in most areas.
32 upvotes
Adam Scott
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 1 years. Moved from Atlanta for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are pretty 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Property taxes are high. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
tulsa_josiah
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 14 years. Moved from Houston for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is decent - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are better than expected. 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. Dating scene is rough. Bugs and humidity in summer. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Mackenzie W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in education. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Ezra Y.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 34, moved here 14 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Eastside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for young professionals. solid 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 Dallas, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
29 upvotes
Audrey Bennett
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
26 upvotes
Charlotte P.
Moved here from Denver about 1 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to school system but Good luck with whatever you decide..
26 upvotes
Sarah R.
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 7 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to cost of living but Definitely worth checking out..
26 upvotes
Elizabeth Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in East. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
24 upvotes
Nicholas Flores
I'm a physical therapist and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
22 upvotes
Oliver K.
Moved here from Denver about 5 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to public transit but Hope this helps!.
17 upvotes
Vivian Ramos
100%
12 upvotes
Elijah W.
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much developing but now it's tough.
12 upvotes
Harper J.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 13 years. Moved from LA for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. engineering 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Cedar Grove 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. Limited shopping options. Far from beaches/mountains. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
David M.
haha yep pretty much
5 upvotes
Emma Ross
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Lots of new development happening
- The housing market scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
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