Hey, The unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is pretty low. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Anyone in a similar situation? Thanks in advance! It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The suburbs are where most families end up.
46 upvotes
20 Replies
Wyatt F.
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
40 upvotes
Gabriella L.
yep
37 upvotes
born_evelyn31
I've lived in Lakewood for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Affordable housing options
- The school system scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
33 upvotes
Rylee Wright
I work in healthcare here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is pretty good. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Ezra Young
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much affordable but now it's underrated.
28 upvotes
Alexa S.
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Sophie Brown
lol so true
19 upvotes
born_zoe41
I'm a teacher and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
19 upvotes
Nevaeh Richardson
This.
18 upvotes
Grayson Rodriguez
following this thread
18 upvotes
Oliver
big facts right here
15 upvotes
Isaac Allen
I work in government here and it's exactly what I was looking for. The job market for my field is underrated. Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Benjamin G.
not my experience at all
13 upvotes
Noah
Bought a house here in 2021 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
12 upvotes
Eli Reed
I've lived in Springfield for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- The traffic scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
David Ramos
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in legal. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
6 upvotes
Quinn R.
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.
5 upvotes
Audrey W.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
3 upvotes
kc_weston
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Westside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
1 upvotes
Hailey Harris
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare 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.
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