I'm retired and It's a a small town city with about 6,726 people. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. TIA! Property taxes are high but you get good services. The suburbs are where most families end up.
2 upvotes
14 Replies
Chloe Hernandez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
38 upvotes
Gary M.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
37 upvotes
Miles Ramos
lol so true
36 upvotes
Eleanor Cook
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Austin about 14 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are growing, gas is tough.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Leo L.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
27 upvotes
James Torres
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 46, moved here 5 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Riverside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
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. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The pet-friendliness situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Seattle, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $70K-$120K 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.
26 upvotes
Lily Hill
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 12 years. Moved from San Francisco for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. 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 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are excellent. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Homeless population growing downtown. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
Christian Brown
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Houston about 7 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are reasonable, gas is solid.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Leah Cruz
I'm a software engineer and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
18 upvotes
James Castillo
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 56, moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Lakewood and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The community vibe situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
18 upvotes
Ariana Edwards
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 7 years. Moved from Denver for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. consulting 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 genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is average - 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. The Heights schools are excellent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Homeless population growing downtown. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Thomas Richardson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely challenging and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Sunset) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
7 upvotes
Aiden Collins
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much affordable but now it's decent.
5 upvotes
Daniel Thompson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in legal. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
All Countries
