Not sure if this has been asked before, but It's a a smaller city city with about 80,331 people. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
16 upvotes
13 Replies
Roman Green
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Violet R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 45, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Maple Ridge and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
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. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
35 upvotes
denver_rylee
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in education. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Hope this helps!.
32 upvotes
Amelia Gutierrez
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
30 upvotes
Henry
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it exceeded my expectations.
27 upvotes
Clara Edwards
interesting, hadn't considered that
25 upvotes
Maverick Scott
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
Genesis Kim
couldn't agree more
18 upvotes
Everett Morris
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
All Countries
