Kennewick information please??? (Seattle, Richland, Pasco: transplants, crime rates, new home)

[LVGAZ]

We are looking at Boise and Kennewick in relocating to - can anyone give me any information please about the Kennewick area?
We are looking for good school, family atmosphere, good pricing on homes, an active downtown core with mom and pop shops, cafes(rather than the traditional big box mall stores) - sports, summer activities (swimming in the lake, river) camping, biking, hiking
DOes Kennewick offer these things - how is crime there?
How is the winter weather there?
Thanks so much
we are coming from Phoenix (which is now 1.5 mil pop - and need to get back to family values and living - instead of trying to live to survive)

[Kennewickgirl]

I lived in Kennewick my entire life. 20 years. And I can tell you that Kennewick does have all these things. Now that I look at it, growing up here has been really great, even if I am a little naive at times. We have a ton of good schools that offer different teaching methods, family events (First Night is a New Year's Eve party that moves to each city. Family friendly, and the Benton Fair and Rodeo at the end of the summer), Downtown Kennewick is really cool during the day. At night there are night clubs and coffee houses. We have a mall that is out of the way of the "center" of Kennewick. There's tons of boating and swimming in the river or the public pool (I took swimming lessons there for 5 years). Winters here are usually cold no snow locally, but if you want to ski or snowboard we have areas that offer that a couple of hours away.


Mags

[mustang34]

Kennewick is part of the larger Tri-Cities area, with Pasco and Richland. I agree mostly with Kennewickgirl except that the downtowns aren't very lively in any of the towns. Also nightlife isn't huge, but there is a fair amount. Other than that, the area fits your criterea. Definitly a family-oriented area. Summers are hot and dry, but there is the river. Winters are cold and dryish (Snow occasionally). Pasco has the most new homes. There are starters as well as nicer ones. Crime rates are low and isolated to the bad neighborhoods. If something you want isn't here, it probably will be, area is growing quickly (but not like Phoenix). Plus Seattle is just over the mountains, about 4 hrs away. (or 3 if you speed ) In case you hate the dry deserts this area is a desert that gets very hot, but not as hot Phoenix.

[wilkermoo]

Has it really gotten that bad in Phoenix? That is where my husband used to live and he loved it there, but I know they had a pretty big boom and it is more expensive now.

Kennewick and the surrounding area is great. If you are looking for a family atmosphere you will find it here. I come from CA, and I know Phoenix is full of CA transplants. You will find people here to be much more friendly. Home prices are much better than AZ. You can find a nice new home in the area from $155,000 up to nearly 1 million depending on what you are looking for and what size you need. In Tri-Cities homes seem to be priced more by what you get and less like where your house is located like in AZ and CA.

I was told that if you stay out of Pasco you can't go wrong with the schools. Some say that South Richland has the best schools. I do not know about active downtown core though, this area is much smaller than AZ. I know that I have found myself wishing we had some of the restaurants and shopping here that I had in CA.

I have not lived here yet during the summer, but people say there are a lot of activities on the Columbia River. Boating, Boat races, fireworks in July etc. I hear there is a car show in the summer called Cool Desert Nights and a motorcycle event called Hogs and Dogs. I have not been here for either yet. Crime is much less than bigger cities for sure.

My husband and I moved here to get out of the rat race in CA. We are very, very happy that we did and we love it here so far. Rather than trying to get by before with both of us working we have been able to comfortably live even though we are making less than we did in CA.