[jpk]

Originally Posted by olecapt

Actually if you stay out of the tourist quarters Las Vegas is much safer than Seattle on violent crime. That is of course unfair to Seattle in that I compare Seattle to Vegas without the tourist areas.

I would expect though that good Seattle and good Vegas are virtually identical. See Henderson which has about 25% of the violent crime rate of Seattle.

Hmmm, good Seattle would be Mercer Island or Medina. Whole 'nother league beyond Henderson or Summerlin when you go into the Seattle suburbs. Henderson and Summerlin are more like a neighborhood of Las Vegas. The Seatle equivalent of West Seattle, Madrona, or Montlake. I'm more speaking to the original poster, to give an idea of expectations. Henderson and Summerlin are not Mercer Island or Medina, that's Boulder City.

Anyways, I've never seen something that belongs on an episode of Cops in Seattle. I see illegal aliens (in stolen cars?) getting chased by cop cars and crashing into things in northern LV. I've seen whacked out dudes with their shirts off getting chased by cops on foot way too often when passing through just about any part of town. More anecdotal, but the feeling is things can get more dangerous than the overly aggressive panhandlers you get in Seattle.

I still love both, and certainly prefer the weather and entertainment in LV anyday. I'm staring out at pouring rain right now, can't wait to get back south.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by jpk

Hmmm, good Seattle would be Mercer Island or Medina. Whole 'nother league beyond Henderson or Summerlin when you go into the Seattle suburbs. Henderson and Summerlin are more like a neighborhood of Las Vegas. The Seatle equivalent of West Seattle, Madrona, or Montlake. I'm more speaking to the original poster, to give an idea of expectations. Henderson and Summerlin are not Mercer Island or Medina, that's Boulder City.

Anyways, I've never seen something that belongs on an episode of Cops in Seattle. I see illegal aliens (in stolen cars?) getting chased by cop cars and crashing into things in northern LV. I've seen whacked out dudes with their shirts off getting chased by cops on foot way too often when passing through just about any part of town. More anecdotal, but the feeling is things can get more dangerous than the overly aggressive panhandlers you get in Seattle.

I still love both, and certainly prefer the weather and entertainment in LV anyday. I'm staring out at pouring rain right now, can't wait to get back south.

You obviously spend too much time in the wrong parts of town...In 12 years in Las Vegas I am aware of one chase that I personally saw as I was in it. Trailed a person thought to be a drunk as she played bumper pool with fixed objects and other cars. Cops came and got her in about ten minutes. Turned out by the way she was not a drunk but was having a stroke.

The only other incident I know of from personal exposure was when we first came here we had the cops take over the neighborhood. Turns out the guy in the next house robbed banks as a hobby. He owned the house by the way.

There are of course places where hearining gun shots is not rare. I am sure there are such places in Seattle as well.

I agree that Henderson and Summerlin are more akin to small cities than neighborhoods.

[Daddys///M3]

I spent a couple of years in Seattle and I can attest to the fact that there are good and bad parts there just like anywhere else. I was actually living in Federal Way (nice lower middle class suburb at the time) but spent every weekend downtown (mostly near Westlake but often ventured to Broadway or the U district). I was down the street from the Paramount when Ice Cube did a show in '92 I believe. That was a very interesting night and I was front row to a 40 man brawl. I also spent quite a bit of time on Mercer Island partying with the well to do kids.

There are definitely neighborhoods in Vegas that give Mercer Island (maybe not Bellevue/Issaquah/Redmond though) a run for it's money. There are definitely neighborhoods in Seattle (I can't remember the name but it was just northeast of Westlake and I was told NEVER to go there) that give Naked City a run for it's money.

Just me being objective.

[jpk]

Hey, I remember that Ice Cube concert! Didn't go to the show, but was thinking about it and then didn't regret it after the news came out. Off topic, but funny that you brought that one up.

[Daddys///M3]

Originally Posted by jpk

Hey, I remember that Ice Cube concert! Didn't go to the show, but was thinking about it and then didn't regret it after the news came out. Off topic, but funny that you brought that one up.

LOL, small world. That was definitely an intense night. Barring the weather, I really did like it up there. My mother and brother are in Oak Harbor right now, my wife's mom stays in Tacoma. My wife is originally from Bremerton. We will probably end up there when the time is right. Gotta get my money right first though. Would love to buy a spot in West Seattle, maybe Alki Point. Love that skyline!

On another note I wish I could remember the name of that neighborhood. Was it Capitol Hill? Beacon Hill (not actually NE of downtown)? I do remember that Pioneer Square after dark was iffy.

[jpk]

Originally Posted by Daddys///M3

LOL, small world. That was definitely an intense night. Barring the weather, I really did like it up there. My mother and brother are in Oak Harbor right now, my wife's mom stays in Tacoma. My wife is originally from Bremerton. We will probably end up there when the time is right. Gotta get my money right first though. Would love to buy a spot in West Seattle, maybe Alki Point. Love that skyline!

On another note I wish I could remember the name of that neighborhood. Was it Capitol Hill? Beacon Hill (not actually NE of downtown)? I do remember that Pioneer Square after dark was iffy.

Pioneer Square is ground zero for the homeless. That would be the prime example of petty theft and auto theft I mentioned. Pioneer Square after dark has a lively bar and club scene, so it's your parked car you have to worry about and less about yourself walking down the street.

Capitol Hill is druggie college kid (or maybe college dropout) central, again making it prime area for theft. It's almost due east of downtown, but northeast is also accurate. That is probably not the area they were talking about. It's not unsafe for walking the streets at night (unlike some places in downtown LV), but again you have to worry about your car getting broken into. Druggies and homeless are the problem in Seattle, imo.

I'm pretty sure they meant places like Rainier Ave - that would be Central District or Rainier Valley.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by tolkien

We currently live in NYC, and would like to Move to the sunbelt to retire in about 2 years. Henderson seems to be one of the ideal places to retire. We are also considering Tucson, Reno, Sacramento, San Diego area (Riverside etc) and Albuquerque.

Can anyone tell us how these cities compare as to the following:
Crime, cost of living, restaurants, housing price, recreation, parks, arts, ease of driving, medical facilities, entertainment, ethnic diversity etc.

We like ethnic diversity as one of the priorities.

Thank you guys & gals!

Scene setting. Don't confuse San Diego with Riverside or even Temecula. They are different places. Riveside and Temecula and such are hot and relatively cheap compared to SD. Riverside is in fact a bedroom community to LA and OC. not SD.

Henderson beats all by a factor of around 3 on crime. Note however that Henderson is really Las Vegas for the purpose of crime and civilization. The crime rate is low in Henderson but it is also low in the nice bedroom communities of the other cities as well.

If cost of living is a criteria that kills SD. Roughly 50% higher.

Riverside, Vegas (Henderson) and Tucson are all similar. Vegas is probably cheapest but not by much.

Reno has winter. It costs more than Vegas. If you want Reno you will do better in Gardnerville/Minden. CofL higher than others.

All CA places have state income tax.

All pretty similar on parks.

I don't know much about Albuquerque so you need someone else for that.

[elizzy143]

Originally Posted by jpk

Since I live in both cities, maybe I can share some perspective.

Crime - Las Vegas has more of it and more serious crime. You probably had your car broken into or stolen in Seattle or know someone that did. The druggies and homeless doing petty car theft are your problem in Seattle and that's about the extent of it. In Las Vegas, just having your car broken into is lucky, you have to be concerned about home invasions. In LV, its illegal aliens and their gangs which are worse than a homeless guy any day. Doesn't matter what neighborhood you live in in LV as tag08 said, break-ins will happen.

Weather - Las Vegas wins, as long as you can handle the lack of humidity. Seattle has perfect weather two months out of the year. Las Vegas has perfect weather at least six. You will find the heat in July and August forces you indoors, be prepared for that and a high electric bill.

Cost of living - Las Vegas is cheaper, no question.

Quality of life - Hard to describe, but Seattle probably has it better. Better schools, better hospitals, broader diversity of industry, more various terrain (mountains, forests, ocean, lakes).

Nightlife - Las Vegas. Duh.

Traffic - Las Vegas is less congested than Seattle and easier to get around. The Strip and the freeway exits surrounding it get bad at night, but no worse than crossing any bridge in Seattle. My one big gripe about Las Vegas traffic is that the stoplights are on timers and not based on vehicle sensors. In Seattle you never sit at an empty intersection waiting for a light to change.

People - Depends on who you are. The people in Seattle are ruder, snobbier, and mix of used-bookstore geek and Los Angeles plastic. The people in Vegas are less educated, poorer, and a mix of blue collar American and Los Angeles plastic. You'll smell the Californians in both places.

Well it's ignorent of you to blame illegal aliens of commiting all the crime!! You I was an illegal alien in the united states for many years and worked really hard to graduate high school and to make it in life paid taxes and never got tax returns!!

I'm actually moving to Henderson the end of this month to attend school and I can say this...Henderson is very clean and very private but Vegas has the Night life so it truly depends what you are looking for!! I live in Albuquerque NM right now and is alot cheaper to live than Vegas but there is lots and lots of unemployment!! Henderson seems safer then other places in Vegas but hey like it was said here before...people that commit crimes are everywhere they can be your next door neighbors for all you know!!

[elizzy143]

Well like I said I live in Albuquerque and I have promised myself that it doesn't matter where I'm at when it's time to retire I will come back to beutiful Albuquerque. Cost of living is very afordable!! Just 1 big important thing don't move over here without having some kind of financial plan!! It is trully hard to find a job right now I got laid off not to long ago and it took me 2months to find another job...and I would be looking every day sense my lay off!! There isn't much night life like Vegas but the moutains are great!!

[lvkewlkid]

Originally Posted by elizzy143

Well it's ignorent of you to blame illegal aliens of commiting all the crime!! You I was an illegal alien in the united states for many years and worked really hard to graduate high school and to make it in life paid taxes and never got tax returns!!

I'm actually moving to Henderson the end of this month to attend school and I can say this...Henderson is very clean and very private but Vegas has the Night life so it truly depends what you are looking for!! I live in Albuquerque NM right now and is alot cheaper to live than Vegas but there is lots and lots of unemployment!! Henderson seems safer then other places in Vegas but hey like it was said here before...people that commit crimes are everywhere they can be your next door neighbors for all you know!!

you've obviously haven't seen Downtown Henderson or the dump around the Galleria Mall...