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Luke Cox
living
Why I chose West Lafayette over bigger cities
Longtime lurker here, The median home value here is around $318,100, which seems about average. Am I overthinking this?
5 upvotes
17 Replies
Aiden Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Riley
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 3 years. Moved from Chicago for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are solid. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Far from beaches/mountains. And weather 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.
I've been in East for 3 years. Moved from Chicago for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are solid. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Far from beaches/mountains. And weather 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.
36 upvotes
Isaac Kim
yep
31 upvotes
Everly
seconding this
27 upvotes
Ezekiel Sanders
it depends on the neighborhood
20 upvotes
Chloe Morgan
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Everett G.
couldn't agree more
15 upvotes
Abigail Cook
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
14 upvotes
Luke Wilson
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
14 upvotes
nashville_sadie
bump
12 upvotes
Dylan Alvarez
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
11 upvotes
Bennett L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 43, moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Springfield and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cultural scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. challenging 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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 chef, 43, moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Springfield and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cultural scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. challenging 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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.
10 upvotes
Gianna Gomez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
5 upvotes
Hunter Miller
This.
4 upvotes
Roman Wood
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely better than expected and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Eastside) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely better than expected and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Eastside) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
2 upvotes
Claire Smith
exactly what I was thinking
2 upvotes
columbus_adrian
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely solid and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely solid and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
2 upvotes