It's a a smaller city city with about 27,981 people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
12 upvotes
12 Replies
tucson_eleanor
spot on
40 upvotes
Harper Cox
hard disagree but ok
37 upvotes
Leah
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 walkability. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
33 upvotes
Dylan S.
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in Fairview area are tough. Kids love it here.
31 upvotes
Caroline Ramos
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 36, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in The Heights and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Phoenix, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K 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.
30 upvotes
Maya T.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Baltimore about 13 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are competitive, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Feel free to reach out with questions..
27 upvotes
Isaac
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Houston 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 Lakewood. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Sarah Ross
I'm a real estate agent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Sarah
lol so true
14 upvotes
Parker
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much growing but now it's better than expected.
6 upvotes
Angel Johnson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 43, moved here 6 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Sunset and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Diverse dining options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited shopping options
3. The safety situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
4 upvotes
Willow Gomez
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
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