Safe city/town recommandations for a female move from CA (Seattle: spring break, apartment)

[Sunny Zhang]

Hi everyone, there is an opportunity to reach out to me. And there are several locations I could choose since I know few things about this area, I think it is a good idea to ask some questions here.

A little background, I live at Orange County in CA now, and the locations I would be offered in Seattle -Tacoma area, Aubum, Des Monies, Federal Ways, Grays Harbor County, Kent, Parkland, Puyallup, Sumner Bonney Lake, Ranton, Tacoma, Tukwila.

The safe would be my priority to consider. I would move by myself, and I am a single female, and I moved to CA from China nearly 3 years ago.

Then would be the costs, I hope I would be able to rent a 1b1b, the ideal budget would be $1200 around, is that possible?

And the third concern would be close to nature, the great nature is the most attractive to me, I spend most of my time in the mountains after work, and I like running. I run almost every day here, I am wondering that is it would be safe for me to do that in WC?

[bergun]

I would recommend the Lakeland Hills area, which is the southeastern part of Auburn, close to Lake Tapps. This area is close to nature, but you will most likely need a car if you’re looking spend time outdoors.

I believe that you should be able to find a 1 bed/bath apartment within your budget, especially now with good credit and a steady job.

I would stay away from the downtown areas of Auburn, due to the homeless issues, which sucks since that’s where the main transportation hub is.

Good luck in your move!!

[Hemlock140]

Safety and affordable are somewhat mutually exclusive. Those cities are all within your price range, but most of them have relatively high crime. You would need to check out a crime map for each to avoid the worst areas. I would consider Bonney Lake, Renton and DesMoines to be the safest. Tukwila is rated the most dangerous city in the state by the FBI. Aberdeen and Ocean Shores in Gray's Harbor County are both on the top 10 list of highest crime cities.

[Angry-Koala]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Aberdeen and Ocean Shores in Gray's Harbor County are both on the top 10 list of highest crime cities.

I'm not up to date on the crime stats for that area, but isn't the crime there more likely to be the property type instead of muggings and murders? Unless things have changed recently, that's going to be one of the safer areas for a single female. It's also close to lots of outdoor recreation, which the OP is looking for.

On the other hand, Aberdeen and Ocean Shores are nothing like Orange County and I think the OP might be in for a big disappointment if she moved there.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

Originally Posted by Angry-Koala

I'm not up to date on the crime stats for that area, but isn't the crime there more likely to be the property type instead of muggings and murders? Unless things have changed recently, that's going to be one of the safer areas for a single female. It's also close to lots of outdoor recreation, which the OP is looking for.

On the other hand, Aberdeen and Ocean Shores are nothing like Orange County and I think the OP might be in for a big disappointment if she moved there.

Ocean Shores I'm assuming is stuff like beachgoers getting their cars broken into, and wasted college kids on spring break doing unwise things. Aberdeen's a town with issues and not somewhere I'd want to walk around at night as a solitary woman.

Out of the near south suburbs, Des Moines and Normandy Park have better reputations. Bonney Lake should also be fine (albeit boring), out of the remaining ones Puyallup is probably the best.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by Sunny Zhang

Hi everyone, there is an opportunity to reach out to me. And there are several locations I could choose since I know few things about this area, I think it is a good idea to ask some questions here.

A little background, I live at Orange County in CA now, and the locations I would be offered in Seattle -Tacoma area, Aubum, Des Monies, Federal Ways, Grays Harbor County, Kent, Parkland, Puyallup, Sumner Bonney Lake, Ranton, Tacoma, Tukwila.

The safe would be my priority to consider. I would move by myself, and I am a single female, and I moved to CA from China nearly 3 years ago.

Then would be the costs, I hope I would be able to rent a 1b1b, the ideal budget would be $1200 around, is that possible?

And the third concern would be close to nature, the great nature is the most attractive to me, I spend most of my time in the mountains after work, and I like running. I run almost every day here, I am wondering that is it would be safe for me to do that in WC?

Of the ones you mentioned, the Renton Highlands and North End Tacoma are pretty nice, if you can find something in your budget

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by Sunny Zhang

A little background, I live at Orange County in CA now, and the locations I would be offered in Seattle -Tacoma area, Aubum, Des Monies, Federal Ways, Grays Harbor County, Kent, Parkland, Puyallup, Sumner Bonney Lake, Ranton, Tacoma, Tukwila.

Who or what is doing the offering? Are they your only options? Will you have a vehicle, or be dependent on public transit?

[jabogitlu]

A little background, I live at Orange County in CA now, and the locations I would be offered in Seattle -Tacoma area, Aubum, Des Monies, Federal Ways, Grays Harbor County, Kent, Parkland, Puyallup, Sumner Bonney Lake, Ranton, Tacoma, Tukwila.

I would only consider Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Tukwila. The others are pretty far out from the core Seattle area and as a fairly young new transplant, I think you'll have a better and more enjoyable life by living closer to the city.

[Sunny Zhang]

Originally Posted by bergun

I would recommend the Lakeland Hills area, which is the southeastern part of Auburn, close to Lake Tapps. This area is close to nature, but you will most likely need a car if you’re looking spend time outdoors.

I believe that you should be able to find a 1 bed/bath apartment within your budget, especially now with good credit and a steady job.

I would stay away from the downtown areas of Auburn, due to the homeless issues, which sucks since that’s where the main transportation hub is.

Good luck in your move!!

Thank you! Downtown sounds like a nightmare to most people, and I am not a city person, I think I'll stay away from downtown no matter which city I'll move to. Thank you!

[Sunny Zhang]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Safety and affordable are somewhat mutually exclusive. Those cities are all within your price range, but most of them have relatively high crime. You would need to check out a crime map for each to avoid the worst areas. I would consider Bonney Lake, Renton and DesMoines to be the safest. Tukwila is rated the most dangerous city in the state by the FBI. Aberdeen and Ocean Shores in Gray's Harbor County are both on the top 10 list of highest crime cities.

Thank you! I do agree that safety and affordable are exclusive, in my case, I'll choose safety.Thank you for the great idea that check each one in a crime map, this helps a lot! And Bonney Lake and Renton are on my top of list, I am thinking that work at Renton and live at Bellevue, how do you think about it? I heard that Bellevue is a safe area.