Hello, I'm originally from Kansas City and The median home value here is around $178,200, which is actually reasonable. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
2 upvotes
11 Replies
josiah_vibes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 30, moved here 3 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Riverside and East, 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 new development happening
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
35 upvotes
Ava Ramos
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Midtown side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
34 upvotes
Aubrey Mitchell
Saving this thread
29 upvotes
Waylon D.
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
23 upvotes
Sandra W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Eastside. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
20 upvotes
Bella
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Robert Clark
nah I disagree
8 upvotes
Valentina Clark
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 6 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
7 upvotes
Cameron Ramos
thanks for sharing
6 upvotes
Wyatt Baker
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 15 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to traffic but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
Weston Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
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