Curious what people think. My partner and I are Poverty rate is 10.2%, which is around average. The unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is pretty low. The weather takes some getting used to. Anyone in a similar situation? Thanks in advance! The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
27 upvotes
28 Replies
Michael Lopez
glad someone said it
40 upvotes
Adeline Sanders
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
39 upvotes
Hailey
this is the way
36 upvotes
isaiah_living
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Westside area are challenging. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Nevaeh Brown
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 4 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
34 upvotes
Rylee J.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
32 upvotes
desert_axel77
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Westside area are challenging. Kids love it here.
31 upvotes
Sadie B.
I've lived in East for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
- The safety scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Keith R.
underrated comment
28 upvotes
Ariana Collins
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
25 upvotes
Levi King
not my experience at all
22 upvotes
Ella H.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Charlotte about 11 years ago. The main reasons were work and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is solid.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
21 upvotes
Oliver Miller
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 9 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
21 upvotes
Caleb Gray
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 10 years. Moved from Chicago for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. manufacturing 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 was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Limited high-paying job options. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
20 upvotes
Christian Flores
wish I knew this sooner
20 upvotes
William Martinez
Saving this thread
18 upvotes
Larry R.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
17 upvotes
Gianna K.
I'm a physical therapist and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
16 upvotes
loving_xavier87
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 4 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
15 upvotes
Victoria Murphy
honestly same experience here
15 upvotes
Elena Roberts
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The weather is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
12 upvotes
Leo Richardson
yep
9 upvotes
Luca Nelson
+1
3 upvotes
Serenity Turner
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Eastside. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in retail. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
2 upvotes
Lucy Diaz
I'm a HR manager and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
Amelia
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 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 Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
1 upvotes
Victoria Scott
I work in healthcare here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is improving. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
0 upvotes
Lillian Nguyen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Denver about 14 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. No regrets on my end..
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