Hi all, Military spouse here. With a population of 8,196, Wilson is a small town. You can expect to pay around $1,211 for rent here. Median household income is $80,928, which feels pretty solid for the area. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Thoughts? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The suburbs are where most families end up. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
2 upvotes
13 Replies
Stella Davis
good to know, thanks
31 upvotes
Jaxon Walker
good to know, thanks
31 upvotes
Reagan R.
glad someone said it
27 upvotes
Mary R.
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Italian places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
25 upvotes
Daniel R.
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
23 upvotes
Samuel Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 49, moved here 8 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Riverside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Chicago, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
13 upvotes
Maverick C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Phoenix about 13 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Bugs and humidity in summer
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are stable, gas is challenging.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
aaron_guy
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in consulting. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
11 upvotes
Katherine
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Serenity Brown
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 14 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
Piper Wilson
Moved here from Minneapolis about 8 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to cost of living but No regrets on my end..
3 upvotes
William M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 10 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 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:**
engineering is strong here. government 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:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have desert landscapes 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 better than expected. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Property taxes are high. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes
Olivia Kim
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community vibe is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
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