Alright, I work in insurance and The median home value here is around $302,200, which seems about average. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. What are your go-to spots? Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
8 upvotes
9 Replies
Grayson Morris
exactly what I was thinking
39 upvotes
Wyatt Chavez
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The housing market is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
32 upvotes
Stella Sanchez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Lillian
Moved here last year, no regrets.
29 upvotes
Vivian C.
not my experience at all
26 upvotes
Waylon Carter
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 13 years. Moved from Atlanta for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. engineering 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:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have ski resorts 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 tough. 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. Limited public transit options. Dating scene is rough. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
Ryan Young
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely excellent and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Midtown) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
20 upvotes
tulsa_lucas
hard disagree but ok
17 upvotes
Leonardo Garcia
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in construction. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
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