Hello, I'm a 31-year-old HR manager and Homes are going for about $347,700 on average. Median household income is $59,938, which feels about average for the area. The weather takes some getting used to. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Am I wrong here? The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
19 upvotes
30 Replies
Levi J.
thanks for sharing
37 upvotes
Joshua E.
this is the way
34 upvotes
Samuel
it depends on the neighborhood
32 upvotes
Brooklyn Robinson
honestly same experience here
32 upvotes
Samuel Davis
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Valentina Martin
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
31 upvotes
Kimberly G.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
31 upvotes
Naomi Morgan
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
29 upvotes
Nora
literally same
24 upvotes
Michael T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 35, moved here 6 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Lakewood and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cost of living situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. solid 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 Seattle, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
24 upvotes
Jace Hill
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 35, moved here 10 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Westside and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Boston, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$90K 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.
22 upvotes
born_bennett81
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Dallas it's hit or miss.
21 upvotes
oaklanddude2021
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
19 upvotes
lake_leah57
good to know, thanks
18 upvotes
Nathan Reyes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 46, moved here 9 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The nightlife situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Boston, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$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.
16 upvotes
Carol L.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great farm-to-table places. the quality of life is solid.
15 upvotes
Mackenzie Wilson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 5 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
14 upvotes
Audrey Reed
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Nashville about 6 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Summers can be brutally hot
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are growing, gas is underrated.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Brooklyn
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the Meadowbrook side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
13 upvotes
Mia H.
I've lived in South for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The traffic scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
13 upvotes
Sebastian C.
Moved here from Seattle about 1 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to nightlife but Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Mackenzie Gutierrez
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Greenfield area are solid. Kids love it here.
10 upvotes
Sean G.
noted, appreciate it
9 upvotes
Logan Robinson
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the Meadowbrook side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
8 upvotes
Ezekiel S.
following this thread
6 upvotes
Ezra Robinson
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Seattle it's decent.
6 upvotes
charlotte_kid
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 13 years. Moved from Raleigh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Lakewood schools are excellent. 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. Property taxes are high. Limited shopping options. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Cynthia L.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in government. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Definitely worth checking out..
1 upvotes
Andrew Cook
I've lived in Springfield for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- The public transit scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. No regrets on my end..
All Countries
