Alright, I'm a 40-year-old electrician and It's a a smaller city city with about 34,322 people. Homes are going for about $401,000 on average. Crime rate is something to consider -Spanaway sits at 640.7 per 100K. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
12 upvotes
15 Replies
Aria Diaz
interesting, hadn't considered that
40 upvotes
Everly
yep
37 upvotes
Hunter Torres
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Sunset. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in government. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
32 upvotes
Chloe Morgan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 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 Oak Park. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
James Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 39, moved here 14 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Midtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The nightlife situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Denver, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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
Deborah W.
This.
24 upvotes
Wesley Bennett
I'm a project manager and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
21 upvotes
Melanie D.
not my experience at all
20 upvotes
Lucas Flores
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 11 years. Moved from Austin for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2020 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. government 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 been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Uptown schools are challenging. 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. Property taxes are high. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
18 upvotes
Brooklyn R.
This.
17 upvotes
Sofia Martin
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 3 years. Moved from Houston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. 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 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. East schools are hit or miss. 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. Dating scene is rough. Bugs and humidity in summer. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Ellie
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
Autumn
couldn't agree more
7 upvotes
Maya
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Greenfield area are average. Kids love it here.
1 upvotes
Piper Morgan
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is challenging in most areas.
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