Comparative commute: farther out versus closer in (Bellevue, Redmond: rent, neighborhood)

[anneeliot]

A question for you:

Since commute times are relative, dependent on traffic and types of roads taken, how would these commutes to Bellevue (specifically: Factoria, on the southern side) rank in terms of time and ease/stress of commute:

Sammamish (central) - Bellevue
Redmond (eastern) - Bellevue
Woodinville (Cottage Lake and similar areas) - Bellevue
Snoqualmie Ridge - Bellevue
North Bend - Bellevue
Duvall - Bellevue


We're trying to decide if living farther out is a viable option, if the commute time would be similar to a closer-in commute with more traffic (ie anything via 5, 405). If commuting from central Sammamish (far away from freeways) would take about as long as a commute to Duvall or North Bend, that would be good to know. Proximity is only as good as the commute, after all.

[CrazyDonkey]

Avoid 405 at all costs...

For a Factoria commute, the closer you are to I-90, the better.

[Seacove]

Agree, for Factoria you should consider Bellevue, North Bend, Issaquah, Fall City, Snoqualmie, something along I-90 will be easiest.

[anneeliot]

I gathered about as much regarding I-90 (trying very hard to avoid using California 'the' here...). My husband will be working in Factoria for the time being, but I'm not sure about the long run. Consulting makes it difficult to pick a good location.

How are the non-freeways? Where are the main back-ups on other major roads?

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by anneeliot

How are the non-freeways? Where are the main back-ups on other major roads?

Since the 520 bridge is tolled, all of the feeder arterial-routes to I-90 will be clogged. The closer to, the better.

[Aquamarineblue]

Can you not afford places like Newcastle which would be a short commute?

[gingerbreadlatte]

Have you considered Lakemont? It's lovely and a short commute to Factoria. Also look into the Somerset neighbourhood.

[anneeliot]

We could afford to live closer in, but are tired of overcrowded suburbs, and spending far too much of our income on housing. We would like to have a decidedly lower rent than we pay now, so that we have more 'fun' money left over each month (and can start saving to eventually buy a house), and can finally replace my old car.
I am a stay-at-home mom, so my husband's potentially longer commute is countered by the fact that he doesn't have to worry about groceries, cooking dinner, etc after leaving work.

Thank you for your neighborhood suggestions - I'll look into those. My main concern is finding a school that isn't a pressure-cooker. My kindergartner is already calling herself 'bad at math' because she can't do multiplication and division yet (a few of the kids in her class can).

[gingerbreadlatte]

Okay, alot of the kids here in kindergarten can do multiplication and division. However they don't do it in Kindergarten here. My Kindergartner can do multiplication and division because he learnt it in preschool but he is not expected to do so in school. Unless the kids compare, nobody's going to know who can multiply and divide in Kindergarten. They do however have to write sentences in Kindergarten. If you're not looking for a competitive environment then maybe going to a a school outside Bellevue, LWSD, Northshore and Issaquah would suit you better.

Maybe Maple Valley.

[anneeliot]

I'm afraid Maple Valley isn't an option my husband will consider, commute-wise. So maybe North Bend it is, just to get away from the test-score-focused schools.