First post here. I'm originally from Boston and It's a a smaller city city with about 27,065 people. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Let me know your thoughts. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
20 upvotes
25 Replies
jacob_girl
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Miami it's challenging.
39 upvotes
Declan Brown
underrated comment
38 upvotes
Christian K.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
35 upvotes
Gabriella P.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
34 upvotes
Bella Thompson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely improving and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (South) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Homeless population growing downtown.
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.
26 upvotes
Genesis Turner
literally same
26 upvotes
Theodore G.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
25 upvotes
Brielle Perez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
23 upvotes
Eliana
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The housing market is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
John Brown
I've lived in Fairview for about 3 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 Raleigh, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The public transit scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
Cameron Mitchell
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco 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 Old Town. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Jennifer T.
hmm interesting perspective
16 upvotes
Miles
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 8 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
16 upvotes
Rylee Moore
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much growing but now it's surprisingly good.
15 upvotes
Christian H.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
14 upvotes
Ezra Wright
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Maple Ridge. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
13 upvotes
Emily Jones
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Chicago it's hit or miss.
9 upvotes
Kayden H.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 6 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
9 upvotes
Evelyn R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 1 years. Moved from Charlotte for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2017 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. government 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:**
I love the pace of life here. 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. Lakewood schools are decent. 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. Nightlife is limited. Property taxes are high. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Ariana Brown
Moved here from Atlanta about 14 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to traffic but Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
Ezekiel S.
Totally agree!
6 upvotes
Cameron
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
4 upvotes
Elijah Murphy
I've lived in Oak Park for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good healthcare facilities
- The public transit scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
3 upvotes
Isaiah
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The housing market is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
2 upvotes
William Hughes
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it was the best decision I ever made. The public transit is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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