Hi all, Military spouse here. It's a a smaller city city with about 55,222 people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Anyone in a similar situation? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
8 upvotes
15 Replies
Roman Nelson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Maple Ridge. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Gabriella Hughes
great question, following
37 upvotes
Aria C.
I've lived in North for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. 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:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- The traffic scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Sebastian Sanders
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in construction. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Landon M.
I've lived in The Heights for about 7 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 Francisco, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good airport with direct flights
- The job market scene is improving
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Oliver R.
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
22 upvotes
chicago_nora
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
21 upvotes
Sebastian Y.
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the Pine Hills side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
20 upvotes
Jameson Lopez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
raleigh_aria
Moved here last year, no regrets.
18 upvotes
Leonardo Johnson
I work in engineering here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is solid. Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Donna H.
yep
13 upvotes
Kayden
literally same
9 upvotes
Axel Ward
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 1 years. Moved from Phoenix for a job opportunity. 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 down slightly 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:**
government is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is average - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge 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. 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 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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