The median home value here is around $232,800, which is actually reasonable. With a population of 13,578, Villas is a small town. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Am I overthinking this? The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
11 upvotes
10 Replies
Luna Ruiz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 15 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good internet infrastructure
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are wild, gas is tough.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Definitely worth checking out..
34 upvotes
Genesis Rodriguez
Moved here from Denver about 2 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to weather but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Jacob Turner
lol so true
27 upvotes
Daniel
honestly same experience here
24 upvotes
Jeremiah Rodriguez
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
19 upvotes
Mason
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 reasonable but now it's decent.
18 upvotes
Madeline
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
columbusheart2024
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is solid in most areas.
8 upvotes
Jean A.
hard disagree but ok
8 upvotes
Adeline Hill
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 37, moved here 15 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in East and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Phoenix, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
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