Alright, Been living here since 2007. Median household income is $123,587, which feels pretty solid for the area. The median home value here is around $519,600, which is pretty steep. Poverty rate is 3.0%, which is pretty low. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The city has invested a lot in new development. Let me know your thoughts. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
7 upvotes
9 Replies
Hunter G.
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.
34 upvotes
Waylon Wood
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 13 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
30 upvotes
Aiden Scott
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much competitive but now it's excellent.
29 upvotes
Dennis H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
28 upvotes
Greyson Ramos
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 4 years. Moved from San Diego for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. manufacturing 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:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are average. 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. Property taxes are high. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
philly_john
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
16 upvotes
Luna
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
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