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Maverick Taylor
living
Day-to-day life in Westgate, FL
First post here. I've been here for 12 years and There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Thoughts?
15 upvotes
15 Replies
Mateo C.
Moved here from LA about 11 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to job market but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
36 upvotes
Addison Walker
big facts right here
34 upvotes
Michael A.
Came here for school and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The outdoor recreation is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
34 upvotes
Bennett Flores
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 42, moved here 8 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The pet-friendliness situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Portland, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 accountant, 42, moved here 8 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The pet-friendliness situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Portland, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
32 upvotes
Declan Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
30 upvotes
Olivia
Moved here from Nashville about 9 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to weather but No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Silas C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Ezra Taylor
following this thread
25 upvotes
Savannah Miller
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 2 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
marketing is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - 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 improving. 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 healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Lakewood for 2 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
marketing is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - 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 improving. 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 healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
Allison
Bought a house here in 2022 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
20 upvotes
Emilia W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 46, moved here 6 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Pine Hills and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cost of living situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for remote workers. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Nashville, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 software engineer, 46, moved here 6 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Pine Hills and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cost of living situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for remote workers. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Nashville, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
16 upvotes
Isabelle Edwards
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
9 upvotes
Elizabeth Jackson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Gabriel Cruz
Bought a house here in 2017 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
6 upvotes
Jayden
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
2 upvotes