I grew up here but left for a while. Crime rate is something to consider -Parker sits at 96.4 per 100K. It's a a smaller city city with about 60,115 people. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Let me know your thoughts. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
7 upvotes
22 Replies
Everett J.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Seattle it's average.
37 upvotes
Austin Gutierrez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is average in most areas.
34 upvotes
Olivia G.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 15 years. Moved from San Francisco for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2024 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing 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 hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are solid. 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. Dating scene is rough. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
30 upvotes
Madelyn Harris
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 9 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. tech 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 love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are solid. 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 high-paying job options. Dating scene is rough. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
30 upvotes
Mateo Kelly
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 9 years. Moved from Portland for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. 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 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have biking trails 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 pretty good. 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 public transit options. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Zoe Baker
not my experience at all
28 upvotes
James H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 33, moved here 10 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Riverside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The public transit situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K 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.
26 upvotes
Joshua Scott
I've lived in Uptown for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The job market scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Alexa Cooper
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
26 upvotes
Aurora Rodriguez
Moved here from Chicago about 1 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to healthcare but No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Stella Phillips
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
24 upvotes
Catherine P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Denver 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 Sunset. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Hope this helps!.
20 upvotes
Joseph King
Saving this thread
20 upvotes
Ella Chavez
underrated comment
18 upvotes
Evan Peterson
facts
17 upvotes
Cora Foster
I work in engineering here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is tough. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Luke Gray
exactly what I was thinking
15 upvotes
Elizabeth Cooper
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 12 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Ian Flores
noted, appreciate it
9 upvotes
thomas_lover
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Highland area are improving. Kids love it here.
7 upvotes
Everly Hill
great question, following
7 upvotes
Parker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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