All Countries
Julia Sanders
housing
Housing in Westlake Village compared to Boston
I'm originally from Los Angeles and It's a a small town city with about 7,829
6 upvotes
15 Replies
Alice Gomez
Saving this thread
35 upvotes
Aubrey
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Old Town. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in marketing. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Old Town. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in marketing. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
33 upvotes
Eva Torres
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much growing but now it's pretty good.
33 upvotes
charlotte_isla
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Houston about 15 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is excellent.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Houston about 15 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is excellent.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Feel free to reach out with questions..
32 upvotes
Sharon P.
I work in consulting here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is better than expected. Feel free to reach out with questions..
31 upvotes
Parker Cox
good to know, thanks
31 upvotes
Violet Evans
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 37, moved here 14 years ago from New York. I've lived in Oak Park and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited shopping options
3. The weather situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 New York, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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 project manager, 37, moved here 14 years ago from New York. I've lived in Oak Park and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited shopping options
3. The weather situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 New York, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
31 upvotes
Easton Campbell
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 15 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 15 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
austinrider2024
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
24 upvotes
Mackenzie Brown
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 1 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 1 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Joshua Scott
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in North. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in finance. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in North. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in finance. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
14 upvotes
Luke A.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Atlanta it's average.
4 upvotes
Ezekiel Mendoza
Totally agree!
2 upvotes
Eleanor Anderson
I've lived in South for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by community vibe. 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 nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Nightlife is limited
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by community vibe. 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 nightlife scene is decent
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Nightlife is limited
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
1 upvotes
Carter Thompson
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
0 upvotes