Been meaning to ask this. I'm a remote worker and Average temperature is around 63--F, so the weather is moderate. Poverty rate is 4.9%, which is pretty low. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What neighborhoods would you suggest?
17 upvotes
30 Replies
Matthew Anderson
exactly what I was thinking
39 upvotes
Dominic N.
same here
36 upvotes
Emilia Chavez
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Lakewood area are underrated. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Camila B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 28, moved here 10 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in The Heights and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The dating scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for retirees. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Baltimore, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
32 upvotes
Angel Smith
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 6 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
32 upvotes
Ezekiel
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely average and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
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.
31 upvotes
Eva Wright
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is decent in most areas.
29 upvotes
Dylan P.
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
27 upvotes
Eleanor Roberts
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 13 years. Moved from Portland for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. real estate 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:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is tough - 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. Cedar Grove 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. Can feel isolated. Far from beaches/mountains. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
26 upvotes
Carson Rogers
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 49, moved here 7 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Oak Park and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The cultural scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for remote workers. 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 Boston, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
24 upvotes
living_valentina55
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
23 upvotes
Logan Rogers
100%
23 upvotes
kaylee_guy
Can confirm, been here 13 years.
22 upvotes
Lori C.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
21 upvotes
peyton_mind
Bought a house here in 2020 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
17 upvotes
Eli White
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in government. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
16 upvotes
Reagan W.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 5 years. Moved from Raleigh for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. The Heights 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Property taxes are high. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Nicholas Morgan
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Italian places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
14 upvotes
Mateo L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 8 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
14 upvotes
Naomi Myers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in marketing. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
13 upvotes
Lily G.
I work in marketing here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Happy to answer more specific questions..
11 upvotes
Nathan G.
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
10 upvotes
Sophia M.
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
10 upvotes
Landon
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Highland area are average. Kids love it here.
7 upvotes
Julia
Moved here from Atlanta about 8 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to walkability but Definitely worth checking out..
6 upvotes
Eleanor Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 25, moved here 10 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Old Town and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The traffic situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: 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 Charlotte, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
5 upvotes
Jonathan Cook
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Italian places. it's been a really good experience overall.
5 upvotes
Serenity Gray
nah I disagree
1 upvotes
Naomi A.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Tampa it's tough.
1 upvotes
Lucy G.
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The food scene is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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