Spokane: what do you know about it ? is it better for most than Olympia ? (Seattle: homes, neighborhoods)

[lilblondsmurf]

tedore

Crime, ...seriously!!! Oh, please you need to come out of whatever whole you must have been living in if you think Spokane has crime!!! Hello...Tacoma, Los Angeles, Miami, we have NO crime compared to most places.
Better yet, dig your whole and go back and live in it....obvioulsy you are afraid of life!!!

[Balco9]

I've been to Spoakne several times to visit and currently live in Tacoma.
I am looking to relocate to Spoakne to get away from Tacoma period and the Northwest. It rains way too much with dark clouds. The crime in Tacoma is much worst than Spokane. Tacoma is full of sexual predators, car theifs, gangs, cops are ticket happy, and traffic is very congested. Spokane gets more sunshine, four true seasons, low traffic, better schools, friendly people, nicer downtown, nicer hotels, and clean lakes...
People get shot at in Tacoma monthly and poor schools.
Yes Olympia is much better than Tacoma, but i personally rather live in Spokane for the more laidback lifestyle.

[aullori]

Here are crime stats (real ones) from 2005 data - comparing spokane to two other larger cities in wa. Understand because seattle has about a dozen little towns around it (auburn, sumner etc...) this isn't a complete picture of the total crime for the total area. Olympia beats out spokane because about one fourth the population - as do many other towns in washington because of their small size. However, when you start comparing spokane to cities of it's actual size they fare about the same or better. (like Tacoma for instance)


Population: Seattle, WA: 579,215 Spokane, WA: 199,384
Murder: Seattle 25 Spokane 13
Forcible Rape: Seattle 138 Spokane 78
Robbery: Seattle 1607 Spokane 286
Aggravated Assault: Seattle 2339 Spokane 743
Burglary: Seattle 6761 Spokane 2436
Larceny Theft: Seattle 27147 Spokane 7932
Vehicle Theft: Seattle 9563 Spokane 1802

Population: Tacoma, WA: 198,748 Spokane, WA: 199,384
Murder: Tacoma 13 Spokane 13
Forcible Rape: Tacoma 120 Spokane 78
Robbery: Tacoma 690 Spokane 286
Aggravated Assault: Tacoma 1191 Spokane 743
Burglary: Tacoma 3255 Spokane 2436
Larceny Theft: Tacoma 9989 Spokane 7932
Vehicle Theft: Tacoma3558 Spokane 1802

What Spokane isn't is one town surrounded by a dozen of other towns (like portland or seattle) so slicing and dicing it up is one way to misrepresent the crime stats in an area. Spokane is one town hooked to Spokane Valley, Wa. and that's it.

I hope this makes sense - it is rare to hear about a murder in Spokane, (about once a month) I've never heard about a car jacking in my life, mostly on the news it's homes being burglurized while they are gone. That's about it I think - that and an occasional bar room brawl.

[nmpaggett]

I'm sorry I couldn't resists. No meth heads on the South Hill? Stick your head in the sand a little deeper there, honey! First of all 5th street on up is considered the South Hill. I live on 8th. One of the best neighborhoods I have ever lived in. My block, I mean.

One block down (on 7th). There is a meth house. Four blocks up (on 12th) there is a crack house. 10 blocks up (on 18th) there is another meth house. How do I know this? Because these are the places my sis buys her drugs. No, I don't support her, she has been arrested here, that is how I know where she buys them.

There are meth houses in every income range, every neighborhood. It isn't *that* bad, comparatively. Spokane is still safe, and still a nice place to roam. I feel comfortable walking alone after dark. I have never been mugged. The only time I get a little freaked is when I have to walk under the freeway at night....spooky.

[zzzion]

Hi,
Population, Spokane is about 2/3 of Tacoma or 2/10 of Seattle (metro census). Push and pull, Spokane is half as simple as Tacoma and 20x's easier than Seattle. BUT........Spokane is 100x's different than Tacoma and 30x's different than Seattle. Look at Portland, it's different. Look at Eugene, it's different.....Spokane is to Seattle as Eugene is to Portland......Meth is everywhere love your kids, Spokane is better than most.

Brad

[chiaroscuro]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/3330016-post54.html

Having been here my whole life, and walked through, biked through, driven through, and lived in quite a few areas, I feel I have a better grasp of the situation than some that post on here who have only visited or looked up statistics online. I do not paint a grand, rosy picture of the place. I do not paint a dark, gloomy picture of the place. This is as true to the real description as I can make it. However feel free to visit and see for yourself, Spokane does have that way of making some people love the place and others it just rubs them the wrong way. Olympia does have its good and bad areas, I have visited once and so I'm not going to speak at length about it

[kena]

Originally Posted by nmpaggett

One thing to know: Spokane is QUITE conservative. We recalled (not impeached, we actually decided we DIDNT vote for him) our mayor when we discovered he was gay.

Just to clear up this misconception, Mayor West was not recalled for being gay. He was involved in a very public 'sting' type operation by the local newspaper that revealed he was using city property and city time to make advances on underage and barely legal boys. This included offering city internships in exchange for companionship. He was recalled for misusing city resources and for seeking romantic relations with underage people. There were also allegations made that he molested two boys in the 1970's. He very likely would have been recalled for doing the same if he were seeking out underage females. It just wasn't appropriate conduct for a mayor (or anyone).

Sure, there could have been a small percentage of people who voted to recall him because he was gay but that was not the driving force for his recall. The last openly gay individual to seek elective office here, Dean Lynch, lost by 49 votes out of over 16,000 cast. He was appointed to the city council prior to that and served a partial term without being recalled from his position.

[MyTakeOnIt]

Originally Posted by Symi81

While Meth is indeed a problem, its primarly a problem for the user and the friends/family of the user... contrary to the hysteria you see on this board, Spokane is NOT overrun with meth-heads, rapists or racists and its a perfectly safe city to live in. Downtown is actually quite nice, and has been on the up&up the last couple years. Of you are interested in Spokane, I reccomend the neighborhoods close-in to downtown like Brown's Addition, South Hill, West Central, etc. I would advise against living out in Spokane Valley or other suburban areas. The thing I love most about Spokane is its possible to have urban living with outdoor recreation just minutes away!

While I agree it has a conservative bent, Spokane is becoming an increasinly moderate city, see that last election for details. If you want conservative, move to a place like Tri-Cities which is totally overun with ignorant, fear-mongering Republicans.

You need to get a reality check on your own hatred. Republicans are great people. Please stay wherever ignorant hateful people like you are welcome.

[Wingfoot]

Originally Posted by MyTakeOnIt

You need to get a reality check on your own hatred. Republicans are great people. Please stay wherever ignorant hateful people like you are welcome.

Republicans are great people ,and unless you are not reactionary, black,gay,not "born again", peace loving,don't love Limbaugh, Fox,corruption ,greed or are anti-delusional in not recognizing the entire world is wrong and that God is an american-you won't encounter any hate from them.

[chopperimpala]

An EXTREMELY ACCURATE post/description!!! One thing I will add,... the gang/cocaine/mariuana problem is LARGER than most realize!!! We are a direct straight shot from Alaska, (unknown to most a large cocaine area) to Canada, (lax border patrol) thru Spokane, (understaffed police/state officials on the drug problem) thru Tri-Cities, (same as Spokane) down I-395 to So. Cal., right into mexico... We do have our own "relatively large" (for this size of city) gang task force. If people say gangs are not a problem, they are either misinformed, or refuse to believe it. I am not refering to the type of gang activity such as drive bys, and neighborhood fights, I am meaning the drug tafficing. It is a problem to a certain extent "swept under the carpet". A VERY close friend is a dare officer, and that is the ONLY reason I know this, otherwise I would have no idea myself. Just something to think about.Isn't it ironic that most streets named MLK Blvd. are in the bad parts of town, right where the Police dept. is...Thats a shame!!! Ken

Originally Posted by Gforce

Don't do it. The area is way overrated. Data in general is skewed purposefuly to get people out here. Prices are higher (yes including real estate, gas, utilities, etc.) than you are led to believe. Most services we associate with first world civilizations are struggling under the growth in the areas like Spokane. Even supposedly great places to live like Walla Walla are much more an image than a reality.

Yes the meth problem is all over, though Washington gets much spillage from Oregon and Idaho on this problem. Real estate in places like Walla Walla is quite high actually often 150 $ sq ft and more, and that is used with little quality compared to better built homes in big urban areas.

Spokane does have some cheaper housing but then so does the Tri-Cities. Most new homes in Spokane are not going to be the quality you get in more competitive markets. I looked at this for three years. If gangs are a problem in big cities (they are) then move on out to the 'inland empire' and experience pedophiles, extremist groups, and meth problems in quantities not even the inner cities can match. Really.

Most of all though, cross check your data. Temperatures, costs, etc. are usually way underestimated out here. The Tri-Cities and Walla Walla area are often above 100 and close to 105 degrees for six or more hours each day during June, July, and August. About 3 of every 5 days are that way. But you will not find that listed on most websites. Daily lows in the winter can be extremely cold if your not used to them in Spokane. It is about 2500 feet or so and has significant moisture air in the winter to be bone chilling at times. Check out those heating and water costs too. Oh and you will be disappointed with big city services like cable, plumbing, etc. Higher out here, lower quality, and customer service is not much even compared to big cities.

Please, please, seek multiple sources of data that are independent of the region before you decide to come out here. The worldview is very different and you should visit before coming in. However prices for new housing in the Tri-Cities and used housing in Spokane are indeed lower than most big urban areas.

About the traffic, we sat for two hours in a jam between Spokane and the Idaho border. It's here allright. Usually has more to do with inept city planning than with number of people. Be prepared to drive 55 and 35 and 25 everywere or learn to love tickets. Things take a long time around here. Spokane airport is fairly good since update and that is plus.

best of luck