Curious what people think. With a population of 60,418, Meriden is a smaller city. Crime rate is something to consider -Meriden sits at 264.4 per 100K. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. What would you do?
12 upvotes
29 Replies
Mateo Kim
I work in construction here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is excellent. Good luck with whatever you decide..
39 upvotes
Matthew
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
38 upvotes
Hudson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is solid in most areas.
37 upvotes
nolamama2026
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Westside area are decent. Kids love it here.
37 upvotes
Danielle S.
thanks for sharing
32 upvotes
Eleanor A.
Can confirm, been here 10 years.
32 upvotes
Melanie Castillo
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 15 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
31 upvotes
Hunter Hughes
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
29 upvotes
Amelia Hill
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 9 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
27 upvotes
Amanda G.
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
26 upvotes
Paisley Perez
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Chloe Wright
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
24 upvotes
Lydia Smith
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 8 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. 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 running, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
16 upvotes
Eleanor C.
I've lived in Lakewood for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- The cultural scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Nightlife is limited
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
Aubrey King
underrated comment
14 upvotes
Anna Brooks
I work in construction here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is decent. Good luck with whatever you decide..
14 upvotes
Santiago Howard
been saying this for years
13 upvotes
Aiden Cooper
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
11 upvotes
chill_john15
hmm interesting perspective
10 upvotes
Violet J.
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much competitive but now it's improving.
9 upvotes
Jaxon Scott
Used to live on the South side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
8 upvotes
Ethan Phillips
interesting, hadn't considered that
6 upvotes
Eleanor Cox
nah I disagree
4 upvotes
Harper Diaz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Portland about 8 years ago. The main reasons were family and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
Hailey Foster
thanks for sharing
3 upvotes
Jaxon Cox
wish I knew this sooner
3 upvotes
Elijah Baker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 3 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
2 upvotes
Isla H.
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in West area are tough. Kids love it here.
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