Military spouse here. It's a a smaller city city with about 67,008 people. With a population of 67,008, Lodi is a smaller city. Median household income is $84,402, which feels pretty solid for the area. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
29 upvotes
15 Replies
Jonathan J.
as a local I can confirm
36 upvotes
Sean G.
nah I disagree
36 upvotes
Genesis Alvarez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
34 upvotes
Nevaeh Green
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 37, moved here 11 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Oak Park and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. 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.
32 upvotes
Charlotte Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Downtown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Andrew Cooper
facts
25 upvotes
Hailey Brown
I've lived in Eastside for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The weather scene is tough
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
orlando_angel
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
17 upvotes
Claire Sanders
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is tough in most areas.
16 upvotes
Christopher W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
14 upvotes
addison_guy
noted, appreciate it
13 upvotes
Elena Hill
Totally agree!
8 upvotes
Brielle Morris
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 13 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
7 upvotes
Miles Long
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 15 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's competitive 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 underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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