Finley, WA (Tri Cities area) (Seattle, Everett: crime rate, home, top schools)

[tomsilv]

I'm moving from Everett to somewhere east of the mountains. I know all about jobs, weather, schools, etc in Finley, but how about crime, traffic, and general liveability?

[Coldwater Native]

I lived in the Tri Cities about 10 years ago and I doubt there has been that much change. Finley was a bit out in a rural area so crime and traffic aren't really an issue. Overall, the traffic in the Tri Cities area is not that bad, nor was the crime. My office mate lived out there and loved it. Said he had the best neighbors in the world.

[meejmom]

Lots of meth labs, though not something you'll probably encounter on a daily basis.

[WazzuCoop21]

Yeah, Finley is on the lower end, more rural and poor. I avoid that end of town east of Kennewick like the plague if I can. Not a fan of it. Meth labs were a big issue there about 5-8 years ago, and might not be as big of an issue now as it once was. Finley happens to be the butt of a lot of jokes from people in TC, since it is seen as a poor, redneck area. That downtown part of east Kennewick also has a lot of illegals, so there may be crime nearby. If you're considering the TC area, that's about the last place I'd recommend, behind maybe the heart of east Pasco/Kennewick. Just my 2 cents

[WazzuCoop21]

I'd go with Benton City if you wanna do the rural thing. A lot more livable in my opinion. If you wanna live in the TC without the crime and illegals, you'll want to move to south Richland, west Kennewick, and west Pasco. Those areas are all quite nice and livable. Kennewick and Richland tend to have the top schools in the state. Overall, great places to raise a family.

[mmelisadc]

Originally Posted by kdizzle

Yeah, Finley is on the lower end, more rural and poor. I avoid that end of town east of Kennewick like the plague if I can. Not a fan of it. Meth labs were a big issue there about 5-8 years ago, and might not be as big of an issue now as it once was. Finley happens to be the butt of a lot of jokes from people in TC, since it is seen as a poor, redneck area. That downtown part of east Kennewick also has a lot of illegals, so there may be crime nearby. If you're considering the TC area, that's about the last place I'd recommend, behind maybe the heart of east Pasco/Kennewick. Just my 2 cents

Finley is a nice area to live and just like any other area there is bad and good.
I'm a single mom that worked two jobs and my children are now grown and they turned out great one is a nurse and other is in the army and the other two work retail. We are not or ever been rednecks. I'm not a Illegal but they are all over not just kennewick or pasco everywhere. The Crime rate goes up and down in all areas. When you have people from out of Tri-Cities move in with there bad and good your bound to get more of what you don't want. Finley is a good place and who ever wrote thatletter, really doesn't know what they are talking about. The Meth labs have been found every where even in the nice areas. Finley is a country area away from the city life. You can see the stars at night and enjoy the air with out the city smog. When your neighbors are 5 acres away don't have to worry who is looking in your windows. There is two little stores when you walk in sooner or later your known and you feel welcome. Life is what you make it and I enjoyed my time in Finley and I felt my kids enjoyed the smaller schools and small town area.

[tinamac14]

I only registered on this website to share important truths to all of your replies.
While WS is both beautiful and affordable(depending on what your job title is) The Tri Cities offers a more diverse (and quite possibly..more educated community.) not to mention more climate control.
WS kids have a tendancy to relocate to PDX or Hood River(where the action is..)meaning mostly drugs or whatevers..... leaving behind the values most parents have worked their 18 yrs to instill. While the Richland area is not my specific choice (HELLO...Hanford) certain precautions in place..whatever.. (my father worked there for 22 yrs) Pasco is far beyond any certain reality.may as well go to Mexico.

If I were to move back to the Washington area...I guess it would be Kennewick, Finley or maybe closer to Walla Wallla. Still a commutable distance pending on the $$.
I have been living in Hawaii these 12 plus years..(Tennessee and California also- nearly 6 yrs each.) but I try to keep in close contact with family and friends who have remained close(if not in) both locations.
Housing costs!! HAA HAA. Try 1.2 million for only 1100 sqft, 2 bdrms and 1 bath, and no yard..only 1 view.Neighbors close enough to smell your toilet duties, come over whenever they want..but never offer the "dreaded baby sitting duty.." You want meth labs? Hawaii is known to be the 1st and worst for any ICE epidemic ever experienced in the country.
Yes, OK the Ocean is gorgeous..and the scenic value is awesome..but here if you don't speak the language....get off da islan brah...nice to see ya..but doan goa stayin..bruddah..aye..ifayadoant.aaahweahgonna getcha.
Not so cool HUH? How about for a 5 year old or a 10 year old dealing with this? 49th out of 50 for education?? I think only Arkansas has the lower rating..

But for crymeneees sake folks... you on the mainland have the wild frontier... and less expensive fuel.. and .. and..and..
I truely believe the only place to raise a family is where they are free to roam and play without the threat of bodily harm or abduction.(my most sincere apologies and prayers to anyone who has ever had to endure this cruelty) as well as experience milking a cow, branding a bull, harvesting a crop... and I could go on and on...
I love the NW. and always will..so long as my home --sweet home -- on the range isn't too close to the continental divide.

Mahalo..to you all.
TINAMAC14

PS..anyone who knows me..will confirm and verify all the above.[/quote]

[WazzuCoop21]

Originally Posted by mmelisadc

Finley is a nice area to live and just like any other area there is bad and good.
I'm a single mom that worked two jobs and my children are now grown and they turned out great one is a nurse and other is in the army and the other two work retail. We are not or ever been rednecks. I'm not a Illegal but they are all over not just kennewick or pasco everywhere. The Crime rate goes up and down in all areas. When you have people from out of Tri-Cities move in with there bad and good your bound to get more of what you don't want. Finley is a good place and who ever wrote thatletter, really doesn't know what they are talking about. The Meth labs have been found every where even in the nice areas. Finley is a country area away from the city life. You can see the stars at night and enjoy the air with out the city smog. When your neighbors are 5 acres away don't have to worry who is looking in your windows. There is two little stores when you walk in sooner or later your known and you feel welcome. Life is what you make it and I enjoyed my time in Finley and I felt my kids enjoyed the smaller schools and small town area.

Honestly, I meant no offense by what I said. I know good people out in Finley, but the perception of that side of town is basically how I said it was. The meth labs were definitely an issue out there in the recent past and being in such close proximity to a lot of the more crime-ridden (downtown, east Kennewick) areas is also something I don't think people moving to the area would strongly desire. If you live a little further out from the downtown area it isn't bad at all. If you're living a ways from dowtown on acreage, then that would be fine, but I was simply stating my preference for the Benton City (Badger Canyon) area as more livable. I'm glad you defended Finley, cause there needs to be another voice on here, but I was just sharing my experience from growing up in Kennewick my entire life.

[lady_jet]

Try Walla Walla. We've lived here for 4 years and I've been living in WA State for over 20 total...with 20 years in Seattle--BTW, I can't add either--I've been in WA State a total of 24 years, not 26 that I previously posted. lol

Walla Walla, after living in Seattle and especially in CA for 6 years, is a breath of fresh air. No commute worth writing home about if you're self-employed or work in town. No place if further than 10-15 minutes and it's a great place to live for kids with lots of good schools, 2 private colleges and a commuynity college, a good arts foundation in town, with great restaurants, good friends, lots to do every weekend when it starts getting nice, OR is less than 20 minutes away, skiing within an hour or so...it's just as nice as the Tri-Cities.

I'd say that the cost of living here is less than the 3-cities as well, and we are starting to grow. The Walla Walla Valley is the banana belt of the state and get less snow than the 3-cities as well, but there are more retired people here also--so you'll find people driving below the speed limits no matter whether they are 25 or 60, usually 5-10 mph below, so it's interesting...but it only takes 10-15 minutes to get anywhere in town. We've got Andy's Market, geared to the 7-day Adventists/LDS/Mormons, and Safeway, Market Place foods, Albertson's, and Super 1 Foods. outstanding bakeries, 5-star restaurants in town and in other nearby towns (check out the Whoop 'Em Up Cafe in Waitsburg about 30-40 minutes from Walla2 and the dinner and dessert chefs are originally from Seattle and were at several well-known restaurants there). We even have a fresh fish market opening in January 26 and they get their fish from Seattle's best fishing boats.

Everything you can get in Finley, you can get in Walla Walla including peace and quiet and a good place to raise kids.

I'm only mentioning this because someone mentioned Walla Walla.

When I lived in Seattle and people would ask me what it was like, whether family or acquaintances, I'd tell then it rained ALL THE TIME, but it didn't. I didn't want my family that close to me, but they wouldn't move here anyway. My husband's folks moved here two years after we did and they love it as much as we do...so it's nice to have more friends in the area!

Come and check it out!

Jet (do I get the job on WW promotion yet?) <kidding>

[lady_jet]

One other thing...all I know about Finley is that someone bought some Icelandic sheep from me once last year. I'm sure it's a nice area, too.

Jet