Hey everyone, Been living here since 2020. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is pretty low. It's a a smaller city city with about 74,769 people. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Would love some local perspective. Cheers. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
16 upvotes
30 Replies
Matthew T.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 8 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills 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..
40 upvotes
Quinn Hall
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
40 upvotes
Jackson Jimenez
I'm a pharmacist and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
40 upvotes
Josiah K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 53, moved here 3 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Lakewood and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Can feel isolated
3. The dating scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
40 upvotes
Bennett Thomas
accurate
40 upvotes
Bobby R.
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
40 upvotes
Hannah Garcia
bump
38 upvotes
Ava Jones
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like seafood.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
37 upvotes
Xavier M.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The pet-friendliness is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
37 upvotes
Jaxon Ramirez
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much stable but now it's surprisingly good.
31 upvotes
Hailey Allen
I work in government here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is challenging. Hope this helps!.
30 upvotes
Clara Lopez
big facts right here
27 upvotes
Grace C.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Dominic K.
bump
26 upvotes
Leonardo P.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Kennedy Harris
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Vietnamese places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
20 upvotes
Madelyn Edwards
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
19 upvotes
Emilia
glad someone said it
19 upvotes
Nora L.
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
17 upvotes
Gabriella M.
Bought a house here in 2015 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
16 upvotes
Ezekiel S.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The school system is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
15 upvotes
Sophia A.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is solid in most areas.
13 upvotes
Connor Carter
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
9 upvotes
Melanie Lee
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Charlotte about 15 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are established, gas is tough.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
7 upvotes
Kaylee T.
I work in retail here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is pretty good. Hope this helps!.
7 upvotes
omaha_gabriella
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
3 upvotes
Ruby Campbell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 56, moved here 12 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Fairview and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The job market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Atlanta, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
2 upvotes
Luke Carter
Came here for quality of life and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor recreation is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
1 upvotes
Lily
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
1 upvotes
Theodore R.
I work in construction here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is hit or miss. No regrets on my end..
All Countries
