All Countries
desert_riley39
living
What's it really like living in Ucon?
Hey, I'm single, late 20s, and Average temperature is around 46--F, so expect cold
13 upvotes
13 Replies
Kinsley M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 46, moved here 4 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Greenfield and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The food scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 46, moved here 4 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Greenfield and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The food scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
38 upvotes
Kinsley
I've lived in Lakewood for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- The safety scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- The safety scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
37 upvotes
Jose Patel
preach
35 upvotes
Alexa Chavez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
34 upvotes
Jesse L.
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
30 upvotes
Stella Torres
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Miami about 5 years ago. The main reasons were school and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are established, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. No regrets on my end..
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Miami about 5 years ago. The main reasons were school and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are established, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Maverick Ramos
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 10 years. Moved from Houston for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. consulting 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. Pine Hills 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. Limited public transit options. Chain restaurants dominate. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Pine Hills for 10 years. Moved from Houston for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. consulting 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. Pine Hills 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. Limited public transit options. Chain restaurants dominate. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
23 upvotes
denver_dylan
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
21 upvotes
Lydia Rodriguez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely challenging and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Downtown) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely challenging and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Downtown) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
19 upvotes
Santiago Gomez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Miami it's hit or miss.
17 upvotes
Arthur M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Hope this helps!.
11 upvotes
Gerald W.
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The school system scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The school system scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
4 upvotes
Lydia Patel
same here
0 upvotes