Random thought, It's a a smaller city city with about 34,133 people. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Is this normal for New City? I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
1 upvotes
24 Replies
Alexa Bailey
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from Minneapolis for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2020 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are underrated. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Cameron Green
as a local I can confirm
34 upvotes
Reagan Reed
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely solid and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Uptown) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
33 upvotes
tucson_ezekiel
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 6 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
32 upvotes
Aiden W.
I work in tech here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is better than expected. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Hunter Roberts
yeah no that's not right
30 upvotes
Luna Brown
honestly same experience here
30 upvotes
Lillian Lee
lol so true
30 upvotes
Ethan Cooper
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Phoenix about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are developing, gas is decent.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
29 upvotes
Gianna Flores
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 4 years. Moved from San Diego for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are underrated. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
Allison Martin
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
24 upvotes
Evan Wright
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 26, moved here 10 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Midtown and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The nightlife situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
23 upvotes
Mateo W.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
Lucas R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 14 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into running, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Savannah Mitchell
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 11 years. Moved from Boston for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 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:**
tech is strong here. retail 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 love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have mountains 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 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. Rising rent and home prices. Can feel isolated. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Adam Evans
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
18 upvotes
Wesley Morales
interesting, hadn't considered that
18 upvotes
Declan Sanders
Moved here from Austin about 15 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to school system but No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
Kaylee R.
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
9 upvotes
Ariana Hughes
Bought a house here in 2021 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
5 upvotes
Peyton H.
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
4 upvotes
living_ian11
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Emily
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in North area are underrated. Kids love it here.
1 upvotes
Naomi Lee
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 12 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside 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. Rising rent and home prices. Can feel isolated. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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