Denver vs. Seattle vs Dallas // Everett vs. Aurora vs. Irving (living, cost)

[star314]

I'm from Aurora, Colorado and now I'm in Irving, Texas, I'm considering moving to the Seattle area in particular Everett or maybe giving Dallas a chance or just going back to Colorado. I was wondering what people's thoughts were on the cities in question, on things like traffic vs. public transit. I don't drive so which would be easier for me to get around without a car. What the glbt and other alternative life style communities are like? What city is it easier to get an entry level job? Which has less crime/ feels safer, has a lower cost of living for a first time apartment renter, which has better health care services and the like? And just which would offer more for an up and coming twenty something?

[GoneNative]

Seattle

I think that, especially their suburban areas, Denver and Dallas are not at all what you're looking for--much less "alternative lifestyle" and much more cookie-cutter, traditional, middle-America. They do, however, have decent (relatively speaking) job markets and more affordable housing.

[eskercurve]

It's funny, Chicago has a vibrant lbgt scene and also has a suburb called Aurora ... so initially I responded Chicago, but then I noticed it was Dallas. My bad.

Seattle has decent public transport in the city and if you plan it right you can get around in Everett. Everett is much more car dependent than Seattle. There are bus lines going between the cities and if you get up early enough in the morning there's a bus line with I think 6 runs in the morning, and 6 return times in the afternoon. That's the killer ... if you work at Boeing, or want to go from Seattle to Everett in the morning, you have to get up at the crack of dawn or earlier.

Within Seattle though, it is no problem whatsoever.

Seattle has a vibrant lbgt scene and the area is very accepting of that lifestyle. It's very "don't care" more than anything else really. I have yet to experience homophobia or xenophobia of any sort out here.

Denver, too, is very accepting, but its suburbs are another story, or so I've heard.