All Countries
Roy J.
living
Needles is underrated, change my mind
Alright, It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
0 upvotes
15 Replies
Jayden Long
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
40 upvotes
Noah Castillo
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Sunset area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Benjamin Reyes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 7 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 7 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Audrey Foster
it depends on the neighborhood
29 upvotes
Bennett
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
29 upvotes
Violet Garcia
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
26 upvotes
Bradley W.
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
Madison L.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 9 years. Moved from Austin for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are tough. 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. Winters are long and cold. Not very walkable outside downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Eastside for 9 years. Moved from Austin for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are tough. 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. Winters are long and cold. Not very walkable outside downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Abigail M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 6 years. Moved from New York for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is decent - we have biking trails 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 average. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not very walkable outside downtown. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Downtown for 6 years. Moved from New York for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is decent - we have biking trails 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 average. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not very walkable outside downtown. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
portland_nolan
spot on
9 upvotes
Thomas Sanders
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 42, moved here 10 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Fairview and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Property taxes are high
3. The traffic situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Portland, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$110K 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.
Background: I'm a chef, 42, moved here 10 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Fairview and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Property taxes are high
3. The traffic situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Portland, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$110K 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.
7 upvotes
Elena Nguyen
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
5 upvotes
Brooks W.
exactly what I was thinking
3 upvotes
Olivia R.
yeah no that's not right
2 upvotes
Olivia Gonzalez
as a local I can confirm
0 upvotes