Hey folks, We're a young couple and It's a a smaller city city with about 75,721 people. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
3 upvotes
23 Replies
Scarlett Hughes
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
40 upvotes
Alexa Ramirez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 7 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
36 upvotes
Wesley Cooper
literally same
28 upvotes
Genesis P.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
27 upvotes
chicagofan2022
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely underrated and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Riverside) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe 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.
27 upvotes
Leo Peterson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely underrated and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (The Heights) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
21 upvotes
Peyton Cruz
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Maple Ridge area are tough. Kids love it here.
21 upvotes
Olivia F.
Bought a house here in 2017 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
19 upvotes
Bennett
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
17 upvotes
Jameson Nelson
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
15 upvotes
sd_leo
same here
14 upvotes
James J.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
14 upvotes
Isabelle W.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
13 upvotes
Dominic Gray
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The traffic is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
11 upvotes
tulsapapa2022
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
6 upvotes
Katherine Smith
Bought a house here in 2017 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone about the same since then.
6 upvotes
Henry Alvarez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 10 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into running, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
4 upvotes
Isla Parker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 11 years. Moved from Austin for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is solid - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North 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. Limited high-paying job options. Far from beaches/mountains. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes
David
I've lived in Lakewood 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 Atlanta, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The cultural scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
2 upvotes
Connor P.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from New York about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are pricey, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
1 upvotes
Scarlett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 52, moved here 13 years ago from Portland. I've lived in West and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The school system situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Portland, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K 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.
0 upvotes
Jose R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 1 years. Moved from Phoenix for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2020 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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 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 public transit options. Not very walkable outside downtown. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
0 upvotes
Leah
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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