Random thought, I'm a teacher here and Median household income is $70,175, which feels about average for the area. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Worth the trade-offs? The weather takes some getting used to. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
10 upvotes
13 Replies
Victoria Torres
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Hope this helps!.
39 upvotes
Margaret O.
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Sunset side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
37 upvotes
Jameson Cooper
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Pine Hills. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
35 upvotes
Jacob Sanders
glad someone said it
30 upvotes
kennedy_local
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Isaac Clark
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Tampa about 8 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are wild, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
26 upvotes
Nathan L.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
24 upvotes
Mason
glad someone said it
23 upvotes
Willow Evans
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 13 years. Moved from Houston for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is tough - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are improving. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited high-paying job options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
fresnorider2021
Came here for family and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The weather is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
11 upvotes
Mia Martinez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
Abigail W.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
8 upvotes
Jessica R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in government. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
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