All Countries
Sara O.
best-worst
Top 5 things I love about Newark
First post here. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
2 upvotes
22 Replies
James F.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
39 upvotes
Greyson Martin
following this thread
37 upvotes
Jackson L.
it depends on the neighborhood
36 upvotes
Aaliyah H.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 10 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 10 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Bella White
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 11 years. Moved from Denver for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing 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:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is solid - we have hiking trails 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 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. Limited shopping options. Dating scene is rough. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in East for 11 years. Moved from Denver for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing 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:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is solid - we have hiking trails 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 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. Limited shopping options. Dating scene is rough. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
35 upvotes
Alexa J.
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
26 upvotes
Ellie Castillo
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
25 upvotes
Amelia
not my experience at all
25 upvotes
Kai Bennett
been saying this for years
25 upvotes
Sophie
seconding this
22 upvotes
Mackenzie P.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
20 upvotes
Gabriel Ross
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
willow_kid
I've lived in Sunset for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
- The food scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
- The food scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
18 upvotes
Lucas
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
16 upvotes
Robert
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
seattlemama2022
I work in engineering here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is average. Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Sebastian Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Eli
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
8 upvotes
Cynthia M.
as a local I can confirm
6 upvotes
julian_fan
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
5 upvotes
Jeremiah R.
Can confirm, been here 14 years.
4 upvotes
Ella
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Portland about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is improving.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Hope this helps!.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Portland about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is improving.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Hope this helps!.
2 upvotes