Born and raised here. The median home value here is around $190,900, which is actually reasonable. It's a a smaller city city with about 32,915 people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Any help is appreciated. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The weather takes some getting used to.
14 upvotes
9 Replies
Aubrey R.
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in South area are solid. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Cameron
I've lived in West for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- The traffic scene is decent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Isabelle K.
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
33 upvotes
Gabriella Myers
yep
22 upvotes
Jack H.
preach
20 upvotes
Audrey J.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 2 years. Moved from Atlanta for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is solid - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are tough. 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. Winters are long and cold. Bugs and humidity in summer. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
tucsonmind2020
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Sunset) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
14 upvotes
Hazel Lopez
I work in legal here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Colton Clark
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Lakewood. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
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