All Countries
Ellie Patel
moving
Remote worker thinking about Lincoln
There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
20 upvotes
23 Replies
atl_connor
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
40 upvotes
Elizabeth Morales
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Clara T.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
32 upvotes
Liam J.
as a local I can confirm
31 upvotes
Grayson
interesting, hadn't considered that
31 upvotes
Camila Long
Can confirm, been here 5 years.
29 upvotes
Chloe Hill
preach
26 upvotes
Julia Torres
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 43, moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Oak Park and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited shopping options
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Francisco, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K 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.
Background: I'm a writer, 43, moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Oak Park and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited shopping options
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Francisco, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K 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.
25 upvotes
Gianna
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 55, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Can feel isolated
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for couples. decent 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K 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.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 55, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Can feel isolated
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for couples. decent 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K 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.
23 upvotes
Oliver
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much reasonable but now it's solid.
22 upvotes
Maya R.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Mediterranean places. it's been a really good experience overall.
18 upvotes
Sofia Ross
I'm a marketing manager and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
nyc_eli
I've lived in East for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
- The school system scene is average
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
- The school system scene is average
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
14 upvotes
Lily Phillips
following this thread
12 upvotes
Maverick S.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 13 years. Moved from Chicago for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2018 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:**
engineering is strong here. engineering 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:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is average - 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. 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 shopping options. Dating scene is rough. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Lakewood for 13 years. Moved from Chicago for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2018 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:**
engineering is strong here. engineering 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:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is average - 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. 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 shopping options. Dating scene is rough. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Olivia M.
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The cultural scene is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Wesley Bennett
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much stable but now it's tough.
9 upvotes
Natalie Brown
following this thread
8 upvotes
Kayden Sanders
noted, appreciate it
6 upvotes
Emma Hughes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 49, moved here 14 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Denver, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
Background: I'm a social worker, 49, moved here 14 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Denver, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
2 upvotes
Valentina Carter
100%
1 upvotes
Bryan R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 38, moved here 10 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Eastside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K 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.
Background: I'm a writer, 38, moved here 10 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Eastside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K 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.
1 upvotes
urban_roman75
hmm interesting perspective
0 upvotes