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Riley Mitchell
moving
Moving to Suffolk with kids -good idea?
Hey, Property taxes are high but you get good services. Any advice would be great.
17 upvotes
25 Replies
Aurora C.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is challenging in most areas.
40 upvotes
Elizabeth Evans
it depends on the neighborhood
40 upvotes
Leah Martinez
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
Clara L.
lol so true
31 upvotes
Emmett A.
I'm a data analyst and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
31 upvotes
Carson Gonzalez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 13 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 13 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Kai E.
great question, following
28 upvotes
Gloria M.
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
27 upvotes
Serenity Bailey
Bought a house here in 2016 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
27 upvotes
local_john82
couldn't agree more
26 upvotes
Olivia M.
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 9 years. Moved from Charlotte for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have national forests 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 decent. 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. Can feel isolated. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in The Heights for 9 years. Moved from Charlotte for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have national forests 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 decent. 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. Can feel isolated. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Kennedy Adams
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
20 upvotes
Samuel T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely challenging and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (West) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely challenging and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (West) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
18 upvotes
Ezra
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the East side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
15 upvotes
Adam W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in education. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in education. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Hope this helps!.
15 upvotes
Audrey Ramirez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is decent in most areas.
15 upvotes
Ava Murphy
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 San Diego for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. 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. East 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited entertainment options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in East for 3 years. Moved from San Diego for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. 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. East 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited entertainment options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
Audrey G.
literally same
12 upvotes
Ariana Foster
nah I disagree
10 upvotes
sadie_heart
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much pricey but now it's underrated.
9 upvotes
tulsa_angel
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
- The nightlife scene is average
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
- The nightlife scene is average
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
8 upvotes
Carol P.
yep
5 upvotes
Isaiah
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
5 upvotes
Luna
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 5 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Close to major attractions
- Affordable housing options
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is tough.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 5 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Close to major attractions
- Affordable housing options
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is tough.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Naomi
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is solid in most areas.
2 upvotes