Where to Live.. suggestions (Seattle, Kent: low crime, houses, neighborhood)

[UWmommy]

Hello All.
I have read many posts and the information is great! There are many posts on the north end, south end, etc..which are informative.

So here's my question...

Husband will work in downtown Seattle but be traveling 3-6 times a month and will need good access to the airport. Like most posters, good schools, low crime, etc, etc.....

We do not want to live on the eastside, lived there years ago and do not care for it. So that leaves us with either Mill Creek/Bothell area ( which is not close to Sea Tac) or the south end. My husband and I both grew up in the north end of Seattle so that is our comfort zone. The south end would be closer to the airport, but I am not sure I would like it (out of comfort zone). So where in the south end is desirable? Auburn? We moved away out of state and will be returning.

We like masterplanned communities that have a close knit feel and lots of young families. We are used to living in affluent areas, and have found that is not really what we want. After lots of soul searching we really do not need the upper end living lifestyle anymmore, but want the suburbs for our kids.

So where do you suggest we look?
Thanks.

[Ira500]

Normandy Park is a south end area that's quite nice. So is Maple Valley. Parts of Kent are fine. Lakeland Hills in Auburn is good. The Fairwood area in Renton on the Kent border is nice...

[UWmommy]

Thank you.
What can you tell me about Lakeland?

[tobester]

Seward Park/Columbia City - express bus downtown - 20 minutes. Light Rail to airport. Lived here for 20 years and love it.

[Siobhan18]

Hi, My husband and I and our daughter are interested in the Seattle area. We have lived in California our whole lives and we are looking for a change. I myself have never been to Seattle or WA state in general . I heard it is less expensive compared to here in San Diego.

[JustCallMeTC]

You're in for a weather shock, but yes, it is significantly less expensive than SD. Nice name by the way. Might ya be a wee bit Irish lassie? (My daughter's name is Siobhan)

[VeronikaW]

Having moved from San Diego 2 1/2 years ago, I would not call Seattle significantly less expensive. We've found that the cost of living is almost exactly the same. Houses certainly are not cheaper in Seattle, especially right now.

[JustCallMeTC]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

Houses certainly are not cheaper in Seattle, especially right now.

I find that very hard to believe when comparing apples to apples.

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by JustCallMeTC

I find that very hard to believe when comparing apples to apples.

Well, I'm constantly looking on Redfin for houses between both places, because I haven't decided if we want to stay in WA or move back to CA. A year ago, the houses in the Highlands were more expensive than the houses in my old neighborhood in San Diego (Carmel Mountain Ranch and Poway which are basically the same as the Highlands as far as great schools, nice homes, commutability, amenities, etc.). Right now home prices are about equal (though redfin was showing the average home price being about $2,000 higher in Issaquah for my search criteria).

Our cost of living has stayed the same between both places (we can't afford a house in either).

[BellevueGuy]

Originally Posted by JustCallMeTC

I find that very hard to believe when comparing apples to apples.

You are just uninformed.

After the housing market crash, San Diego is the same if not even a little cheaper.