Where is the best area to live in the Tri Cities Area?

[Moon Waffle]

Back to your original question:

Stay west of Highway 395 (the Blue Bridge) and you will be fine. This would mean all of West Richland, Richland, West Kennewick and West Pasco. Avoid anything east of the Blue Bridge.

Now to elaborate:

West Richland is very new, quiet, and just starting to finally build some nearby shopping. Most has gone up in the past 5 years. It is a bit more isolated if you like the "country" feel.

Richland is nice on the far ends of town (far north and far south). The middle older part of town is fine, but it's old and a bit run down in some neighborhoods.

West Kennewick will put you close to the action i.e. all the main shopping, dining, entertainment area. People will occasionally complain about the traffic in that area but they are idiots. There are NO traffic issues in the Tri-Cities. Repeat: NONE. To Tri-Citians, "Traffic" means that there are more than 5 cars at the stop light.

West Pasco is similar to West Richland: most of it is new within the past 5 years. New schools, new shopping, and rows and rows of new housing. West Pasco's housing is primarily starter homes. The area is central to the rest of the Tri-Cities.

[Ryan]

Can't wait to see what the '07 West Richland crime index looks like...

My 2c- West Pasco is still affordable, has a fast growing population and retail sector, is getting a new $250M dollar high school next year, has nonexistent crime and central access to any part of the Tricities. I put my money here because I know that it has the most potential.

Benton City is growing quickly right now as well, but there's not enough going on there yet to have an accurate outlook for the area. South Richland is my next favorite area after W. Pasco. It's really nice (and expensive).

[Stevenml155]

I've lived in Richland and Kennewick - great cities and good schools as well. West Pasco, I feel, will eventually be it's own city as it is having it's own schools built and is attracting the affluent population - complete opposite of East Pasco. You would do well to look in these areas for nice neighborhoods.

[wilkermoo]

I moved here a little over three months ago and so far I love this area. My husband and I have done quite a bit of exploring to find the area's tat we like since we plan to buy a home in the next 6 months. The area's that seem the nicest are West Kennewick, South Richland and North Richland. I agree with most people that post saying that you would like to avoid East of 395, if you were to drive around here you would know why.

Richland seems like an older town, there are a lot of converted duplexes older homes. There are a few restaurants in town, but you will most likely go to Kennewick for shopping, dining, movies etc.

West Pasco is nice, seems really new. The only thing I do not like about Pasco is tat once you leave the West Pasco area, things are not as nice. West Ricland seems like it might be the next up and coming area, not a lot out there and what is out there looks brand new. If I were to suggest the area that I think is the best it would be West Kennewick.

[Ron House]

We had real problems finding doctors who will take medicare as primary.We finally found a good specialist...he has been here a long time and a new GP who is nice but sooooo young. She seems good and I am sure we will find out with time.
Nowhere the choice or quality we had in the LA area.

Ron

[movin2008]

I recently started checking out the city-data forum because we were considering moving. I think I have talked myself out of leaving Tri-Cities though, and I started looking at the Tri-Cities pages for fun and info. I ran across your comment on medical care. From your post I thought you might want to check out the new Coler Center at KGH. This center is supposed to specialize in dealing with Medicare and how to get your treatment paid for. You might want to look into it. Any way, some info is below.

Welcome to Kennewick General Hospital.

"The center is named in honor of Dr. Coler, a longtime Tri-City physician and former hospital trustee who is now retired -- sort of.
The Coler Center, with two geriatric specialists, is designed to fill an essential need. Not only are more of our seniors staying in the Tri-Cities, but the area also is drawing many new retirees from all over the country.
The Coler Center will have an open house at 7211 W. Deschutes from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 27, when the hospital invites the public 'to see just how comprehensive care for seniors will be.'"

[Balco9]

Originally Posted by Ron House

We had real problems finding doctors who will take medicare as primary.We finally found a good specialist...he has been here a long time and a new GP who is nice but sooooo young. She seems good and I am sure we will find out with time.
Nowhere the choice or quality we had in the LA area.

Ron

Young doctors who are fresh out of school know more than the seasoned doctors, since they are up to date with new studies and technology...
I would trust a young doctor anyday over a doctor in their 60's...

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by Balco9

Young doctors who are fresh out of school know more than the seasoned doctors, since they are up to date with new studies and technology...
I would trust a young doctor anyday over a doctor in their 60's...

To be fair, I don't know if that's necessarily true. I know many physicians who are in their 50's and 60's that keep updated on all the details of their specialties and the newest techniques in medicine. AND the most important thing to me is their EXPERIENCE. They've seen so much more and have been exposed to so many more varied cases than somebody fresh out of med school.

Just my opinion.

[Balco9]

Great point rocco...