Hello, I grew up here but left for a while. With a population of 52,172, Wheaton is a smaller city. Median household income is $107,349, which feels pretty solid for the area. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The city has invested a lot in new development. What are your go-to spots? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
5 upvotes
11 Replies
Liam Brooks
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
urban_hudson57
I've been living here for 7 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The housing market is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
25 upvotes
Nicholas Edwards
Bought a house here in 2017 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
23 upvotes
Riley
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much wild but now it's surprisingly good.
20 upvotes
Kennedy Parker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Maple Ridge. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Hope this helps!.
16 upvotes
Stella Reed
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
Theodore W.
honestly same experience here
9 upvotes
Jackson M.
wish I knew this sooner
8 upvotes
Jordan Gonzalez
great question, following
7 upvotes
Eleanor Foster
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Sunset side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
5 upvotes
hannah_runner
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
All Countries
