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Kaylee Gutierrez
best-worst
Best kept secrets of Lodi, NJ
Hey folks, Average temperature is around 55--F, so the weather is moderate.
3 upvotes
18 Replies
Emmett
+1
39 upvotes
Joseph Rogers
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great craft beer places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
39 upvotes
Harper Sanders
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 50, moved here 11 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Oak Park and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Nashville, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 sales manager, 50, moved here 11 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Oak Park and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Nashville, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
38 upvotes
Stella Ross
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 12 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 Baltimore, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The housing market scene is average
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The housing market scene is average
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
zoe_heart
Can confirm, been here 8 years.
36 upvotes
Landon Hall
Totally agree!
35 upvotes
Valentina Hall
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 11 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 11 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
34 upvotes
Sofia
thanks for sharing
33 upvotes
Alexa
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
33 upvotes
Weston Mendoza
glad someone said it
24 upvotes
Julian Thompson
following this thread
23 upvotes
Christian Jimenez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 3 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 3 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
22 upvotes
Mia Cook
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
19 upvotes
desert_hannah12
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from LA about 1 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Affordable housing options
- Good airport with direct flights
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from LA about 1 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Affordable housing options
- Good airport with direct flights
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
11 upvotes
Lillian Kelly
Can confirm, been here 13 years.
11 upvotes
Leo Johnson
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great seafood places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
6 upvotes
vegas_ellie
lol so true
2 upvotes
Bennett M.
Moved here from Seattle about 12 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to traffic but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
1 upvotes