We're a young couple and Poverty rate is 10.7%, which is around average. Crime rate is something to consider — Ontario sits at 359.5 per 100K. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Does this match your experience?
15 upvotes
22 Replies
Clara B.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is challenging in most areas.
37 upvotes
Madeline A.
wish I knew this sooner
37 upvotes
Santiago White
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Mia Gomez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Robert J.
100%
34 upvotes
Brooklyn Parker
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
28 upvotes
Ava Scott
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Uptown area are excellent. Kids love it here.
24 upvotes
Katherine Baker
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
21 upvotes
Ella
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely decent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
18 upvotes
Eli B.
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good airport with direct flights
- The walkability scene is average
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
Victoria
yep
17 upvotes
Mark C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Downtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Charlotte Perez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (East) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Limited public transit 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.
10 upvotes
Emilia Wright
Bought a house here in 2020 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
6 upvotes
Eli Garcia
I've lived in Meadowbrook 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 Nashville, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
- The dating scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
Serenity Brown
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 15 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
3 upvotes
Isaiah M.
I work in hospitality here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is challenging. Definitely worth checking out..
2 upvotes
Sofia
it depends on the neighborhood
2 upvotes
Jaxon G.
spot on
1 upvotes
Anna Brooks
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely pretty good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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
Grace Johnson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. No regrets on my end..
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