Curious what people think. I'm single, late 40s, and Average temperature is around 70°F, so the weather is moderate. Crime rate is something to consider — Scottsdale sits at 159.3 per 100K. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Let me know your thoughts. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
54 upvotes
20 Replies
sdmind2024
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 34, moved here 1 years ago from New York. I've lived in Greenfield and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The housing market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for families. tough 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 New York, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K 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.
40 upvotes
Cora Perez
Used to live on the East side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
38 upvotes
Luke T.
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 2 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Mason
haha yep pretty much
35 upvotes
Madeline Myers
I work in retail here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
Emmett E.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 5 years. Moved from Tampa for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2018 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood 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. Urban sprawl is real. Chain restaurants dominate. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
real_ella23
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
33 upvotes
Xavier Howard
Moved here from Miami about 13 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to cultural scene but Good luck with whatever you decide..
32 upvotes
Adam Nguyen
lol so true
32 upvotes
Logan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 37, moved here 11 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Greenfield and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
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 a lot of cultural diversity
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 San Diego, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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
Kenneth C.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Thai places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
18 upvotes
Xavier Morris
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 4 years. Moved from Minneapolis for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. 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 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge schools are better than expected. 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. Road conditions need improvement. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Ava King
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
15 upvotes
Hazel Thomas
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely average and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Midtown) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
9 upvotes
Brielle Chavez
Moved here from New York about 2 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to safety but Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Sarah
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in education. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
7 upvotes
Camila Parker
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Portland about 13 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is improving.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
7 upvotes
Scarlett
honestly same experience here
1 upvotes
Xavier R.
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
0 upvotes
declan_walker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 48, moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Springfield and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K 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.
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