We have two kids and It's a a smaller city city with about 43,697 people. The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
7 upvotes
28 Replies
Valentina Thomas
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness 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.
40 upvotes
Levi J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 39, moved here 6 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in The Heights and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Diverse dining options
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. Property taxes are high
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The safety situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for families. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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
Owen Ramirez
Moved here from Dallas about 3 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to nightlife but Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
quinn_heart
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
37 upvotes
Brielle Howard
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in The Heights area are improving. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Hailey Sanders
Moved here last year, no regrets.
32 upvotes
Everly King
Moved here from Portland about 15 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to school system but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Kai James
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
28 upvotes
Victoria H.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
27 upvotes
Evan E.
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- The housing market scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
25 upvotes
Greyson Ramos
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
23 upvotes
Emma S.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Uptown) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
21 upvotes
Roman Bennett
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Springfield) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
20 upvotes
Gianna Ward
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
19 upvotes
Gabriel
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely excellent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Midtown) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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
Riley Young
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: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Nathan Rodriguez
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
13 upvotes
Everly Diaz
I work in government here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
13 upvotes
Nora Wilson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 28, moved here 11 years ago from New York. I've lived in Old Town and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for retirees. tough 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 New York, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K 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.
13 upvotes
Camila Chavez
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
11 upvotes
Allison
I've lived in Greenfield for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- The pet-friendliness scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Ariana Collins
Bought a house here in 2023 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
9 upvotes
Stephen H.
hmm interesting perspective
8 upvotes
Emmett Cook
yeah no that's not right
7 upvotes
Ariana Cook
same here
6 upvotes
Adrian Carter
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Chicago it's surprisingly good.
4 upvotes
Mateo Kim
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Mexican places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
4 upvotes
Daniel Hernandez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely pretty good and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Old Town) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
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