Alright, I'm a college student here and Median household income is $127,785, which feels pretty solid for the area. Homes are going for about $490,500 on average. With a population of 43,239, West Babylon is a smaller city. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Anyone in a similar situation? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
7 upvotes
15 Replies
Greyson
I've lived in The Heights for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Four distinct seasons
- The public transit scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
38 upvotes
Hunter Ramos
been saying this for years
37 upvotes
Grayson
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to New York it's underrated.
37 upvotes
Jeremiah Collins
wish I knew this sooner
36 upvotes
Henry Foster
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
34 upvotes
Thomas
Moved here from Boston about 3 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but No regrets on my end..
29 upvotes
Ruby Gomez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 6 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are better than expected. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
27 upvotes
Hailey Harris
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much stable but now it's challenging.
19 upvotes
Thomas Mendoza
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 5 years. Moved from Atlanta for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2020 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Highland schools are hit or miss. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Bugs and humidity in summer. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Ella
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Logan Stewart
facts
14 upvotes
Isaiah Thomas
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
13 upvotes
Isaiah C.
I've lived in East for about 1 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 Phoenix, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
- The cost of living scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
All Countries
