Curious what people think. My partner and I are Poverty rate is 5.9%, which is pretty low. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Let me know your thoughts. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
29 upvotes
28 Replies
ruby_guy
yeah no that's not right
39 upvotes
fresno_brooklyn
Moved here from San Diego about 15 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to dating scene but Hope this helps!.
38 upvotes
Mateo Richardson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 28, moved here 7 years ago from New York. I've lived in South and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The school system situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 New York, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
33 upvotes
Andrea Y.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 15 years. Moved from Chicago for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech 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 underrated - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are solid. 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. Can feel isolated. Dating scene is rough. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Henry Rivera
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Hope this helps!.
32 upvotes
Emilia Ross
I've lived in West for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
32 upvotes
Abigail Hall
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Nashville about 2 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
31 upvotes
Sofia Martin
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 New York. I've lived in Old Town and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Can feel isolated
3. The dating scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 New York, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
29 upvotes
Russell W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Lakewood. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Definitely worth checking out..
26 upvotes
Santiago Turner
Moved here from Boston about 3 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to school system but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Logan Cook
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely average and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
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.
23 upvotes
Christopher M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Chicago about 12 years ago. The main reasons were family and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Close to major attractions
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are reasonable, gas is decent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Feel free to reach out with questions..
23 upvotes
happy_zoey99
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The food scene is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
23 upvotes
Santiago N.
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is dating scene. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
23 upvotes
Greyson Alvarez
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much pricey but now it's pretty good.
22 upvotes
Vivian
I work in government here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is average. Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
Sadie
nah I disagree
20 upvotes
sofia_chef
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Definitely worth checking out..
19 upvotes
Chloe Bennett
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Good luck with whatever you decide..
16 upvotes
Ellie
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the Meadowbrook side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
14 upvotes
Melanie P.
exactly what I was thinking
13 upvotes
Madeline Foster
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
11 upvotes
Kaylee Myers
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
9 upvotes
Roman Ruiz
it depends on the neighborhood
9 upvotes
Elijah Davis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 45, moved here 12 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Downtown and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Atlanta, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
7 upvotes
Olivia H.
I've lived in Lakewood for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Strong sense of community
- The public transit scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Grace Phillips
I've lived in Westside for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Affordable housing options
- The pet-friendliness scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
3 upvotes
Carter
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 1 years. Moved from Seattle for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. 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. West schools are pretty good. 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. Limited public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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