First post here. The median home value here is around $356,600, which seems about average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. What neighborhoods would you suggest? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
3 upvotes
29 Replies
Theodore
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much affordable but now it's underrated.
38 upvotes
Jordan Y.
I work in engineering here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is average. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
38 upvotes
Katherine G.
glad someone said it
37 upvotes
Jameson P.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Minneapolis it's average.
36 upvotes
Daniel Bailey
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
34 upvotes
Gabriella Flores
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 44, moved here 2 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Eastside and Lakewood, 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. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The safety situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for families. surprisingly 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 Boston, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$140K 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.
30 upvotes
Matthew Perez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
30 upvotes
Carter Wilson
Moved here from Chicago about 11 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to cultural scene but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Roman Murphy
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from San Diego about 12 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are affordable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
Nevaeh
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 4 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Kyle T.
I've lived in Eastside for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good healthcare facilities
- The traffic scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
27 upvotes
Natalie
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
24 upvotes
Leo
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
24 upvotes
Amelia W.
Moved here from Baltimore about 7 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to walkability but Definitely worth checking out..
23 upvotes
Emmett
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Italian places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
19 upvotes
Kai Bennett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 44, moved here 3 years ago from Denver. I've lived in North and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Denver, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K 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.
18 upvotes
Levi Gonzalez
I work in real estate here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is underrated. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Everett G.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Houston it's tough.
17 upvotes
Brooklyn
preach
14 upvotes
Adrian Anderson
hmm interesting perspective
14 upvotes
Piper B.
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Downtown side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
12 upvotes
Ezekiel Reyes
spot on
11 upvotes
Kaylee Rogers
facts
10 upvotes
Nora Lopez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 43, moved here 3 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Westside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
9 upvotes
desert_declan41
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
- The nightlife scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited public transit options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
8 upvotes
Caleb C.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
7 upvotes
Joyce C.
same here
5 upvotes
Jack Garcia
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
1 upvotes
Jacob
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like sushi.
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