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Ezra S.
living
Pros and cons of Vancleave after 6 years
Hey, Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to.
12 upvotes
12 Replies
Brielle Moore
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 14 years. Moved from Charlotte for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is tough - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are improving. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Limited shopping options. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Oak Park for 14 years. Moved from Charlotte for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is tough - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are improving. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Limited shopping options. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Quinn Castillo
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 13 years. Moved from New York for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. construction 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Maple Ridge 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. Nightlife is limited. Property taxes are high. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 13 years. Moved from New York for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. construction 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Maple Ridge 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. Nightlife is limited. Property taxes are high. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
austin_waylon
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
29 upvotes
Mateo Ward
preach
24 upvotes
Stella Cook
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 2 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to community vibe but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Wesley
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
detroitheart2023
Moved here from Portland about 13 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to walkability but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
17 upvotes
Isabelle Green
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
delilah_mama
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Vivian D.
seconding this
3 upvotes
Kai Nelson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 44, moved here 8 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Lakewood and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The food scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 44, moved here 8 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Lakewood and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The food scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
2 upvotes
Caleb Jackson
I've lived in Meadowbrook for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
0 upvotes