Hey folks, We're a young couple and Median household income is $70,065, which feels about average for the area. The median home value here is around $409,700, which is pretty steep. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Worth the trade-offs? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The weather takes some getting used to. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The suburbs are where most families end up. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
29 upvotes
27 Replies
Henry Jimenez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 2 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
40 upvotes
dcwalker2021
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The weather scene is decent
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Joseph
bump
39 upvotes
Lucas
big facts right here
38 upvotes
Scarlett A.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 3 years ago. The main reasons were family and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is average.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
Henry Foster
Bought a house here in 2017 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
37 upvotes
Colton Peterson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in consulting. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
Oliver Ortiz
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Meadowbrook area are underrated. Kids love it here.
32 upvotes
Parker Cooper
preach
31 upvotes
chicago_aria
Saving this thread
31 upvotes
Silas T.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
30 upvotes
Evan W.
great question, following
30 upvotes
Gabriel
Totally agree!
28 upvotes
Valentina Williams
Came here for family and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The traffic is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
28 upvotes
loving_isla68
big facts right here
26 upvotes
Julia
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great BBQ places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
26 upvotes
Ruby Torres
I've lived in Lakewood for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The cultural scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Definitely worth checking out..
22 upvotes
Mason S.
Came here for work and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The cultural scene is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
19 upvotes
Kaylee Cook
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in East area are average. Kids love it here.
13 upvotes
Eleanor M.
I'm a accountant and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
12 upvotes
Mateo Cooper
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
11 upvotes
Daniel Sanders
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
10 upvotes
Abigail Nelson
nah I disagree
6 upvotes
Kayla M.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
4 upvotes
Katherine Moore
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
3 upvotes
Bennett Lopez
not my experience at all
2 upvotes
Katherine M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 9 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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