Random thought, We're a young couple and The median home value here is around $117,400, which is actually reasonable. You can expect to pay around $972 for rent here. Median household income is $57,183, which feels about average for the area. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Worth the trade-offs? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
5 upvotes
15 Replies
seattle_victoria
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much pricey but now it's hit or miss.
38 upvotes
Sarah Gonzalez
not my experience at all
38 upvotes
Easton E.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 36, moved here 15 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The job market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Phoenix, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
33 upvotes
Sarah Morales
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Italian places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
29 upvotes
Daniel Ross
been saying this for years
27 upvotes
Elijah Smith
Saving this thread
25 upvotes
Arianna P.
spot on
24 upvotes
Samantha G.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
Mason Foster
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
8 upvotes
Mackenzie James
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in tech. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
No regrets on my end..
7 upvotes
Adrian Lee
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Raleigh about 4 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are growing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. No regrets on my end..
7 upvotes
Brooklyn
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 2 years. Moved from New York for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. construction 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:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. West schools are decent. 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 high-paying job options. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
6 upvotes
Jeremiah Nelson
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Springfield area are improving. Kids love it here.
4 upvotes
William Cruz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 8 years. Moved from San Diego for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. tech 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. East 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes
Jayden
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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