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Owen Edwards
living
Raising a family in Walker -thoughts?
Hello, Am I wrong here? Appreciate any input. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
8 upvotes
21 Replies
Josiah Price
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 9 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 9 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
40 upvotes
Allison Reed
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 53, moved here 8 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in North and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Property taxes are high
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Seattle, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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 project manager, 53, moved here 8 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in North and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Property taxes are high
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Seattle, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
37 upvotes
Adrian Nelson
spot on
35 upvotes
Hannah Young
hard disagree but ok
35 upvotes
Anna King
same here
34 upvotes
Ezekiel Johnson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 4 years. Moved from LA for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. engineering 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:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown 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. Urban sprawl is real. Limited high-paying job options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, 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 Uptown for 4 years. Moved from LA for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. engineering 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:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown 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. Urban sprawl is real. Limited high-paying job options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Adrian King
seconding this
32 upvotes
Isabella Hall
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Elizabeth
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much affordable but now it's improving.
28 upvotes
Camila Myers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in legal. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in legal. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
24 upvotes
Edward P.
I work in engineering here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is decent. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
20 upvotes
leah_mama
I've lived in East for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good airport with direct flights
- The food scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. No regrets on my end..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good airport with direct flights
- The food scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Isabelle Kelly
preach
19 upvotes
Ella Parker
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
17 upvotes
desert_jonathan28
underrated comment
17 upvotes
Cameron Gutierrez
this is the way
10 upvotes
Julian
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 13 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Hope this helps!.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 13 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Chloe Morales
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from San Francisco about 14 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from San Francisco about 14 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck with whatever you decide..
5 upvotes
William M.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
3 upvotes
real_bennett82
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 8 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 8 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
2 upvotes
Brooklyn Ruiz
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
0 upvotes