Hey folks, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Poverty rate is 14.3%, which is around average. The weather takes some getting used to. Is this normal for Lodi? Cheers.
25 upvotes
29 Replies
Michael Allen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 57, moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Highland and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for retirees. improving 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K 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.
40 upvotes
Anna Gomez
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the Pine Hills side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
39 upvotes
sf_nicholas
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
Emilia Sanchez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Pittsburgh 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 Maple Ridge. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in construction. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
Abigail D.
literally same
35 upvotes
Brielle Ruiz
I work in tech here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is tough. Good luck with whatever you decide..
34 upvotes
Roman Gomez
seconding this
33 upvotes
Alexander A.
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great craft beer places. I love the pace of life here.
31 upvotes
Adam C.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great craft beer places. I love the pace of life here.
31 upvotes
Leonardo Ortiz
lol so true
31 upvotes
Logan Wood
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 32, moved here 1 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Uptown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The walkability situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for families. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K 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.
31 upvotes
Ava Myers
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
29 upvotes
Madelyn
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Pine Hills area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
Aurora Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 56, moved here 8 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in North and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for remote workers. average 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 Minneapolis, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
26 upvotes
Richard B.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
lake_maverick95
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 32, moved here 7 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Uptown and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Affordable housing options
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. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The job market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. better than expected 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 Minneapolis, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K 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.
19 upvotes
James Rogers
exactly what I was thinking
18 upvotes
Evan Bennett
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Downtown) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
16 upvotes
Thomas C.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Paisley Campbell
accurate
13 upvotes
Valentina G.
hmm interesting perspective
9 upvotes
Alice White
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Charlotte it's tough.
7 upvotes
Amelia Williams
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much reasonable but now it's improving.
5 upvotes
Brooks Reyes
Moved here last year, no regrets.
4 upvotes
samuel_mama
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 58, moved here 2 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Riverside and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Atlanta, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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
Jeremiah Rodriguez
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Vietnamese places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
2 upvotes
Jack Hall
Totally agree!
1 upvotes
Skylar Rodriguez
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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