I hear bad things about West Richland (Seattle, Kennewick: crime, affordable houses)

[Balco9]

Like water issue's, crime, and poor schools...
Can someone give me a better idea how
living in West Richland is like. Thank you.

[M3 Mitch]

There are problems with water supply. Basically too many houses were built in a short period of time and overloaded the infrastructure.

I don't know about schools. Compared to East Pasco, West Richland is pretty crime free.

If you are into subdivisions with rows of uniformly styled houses all in rows (made out of tikki-takki and they all look just the same) West is for you.

I would say you can do better in one of the 3 original Tri-Cities. Nothing that wrong with West, just that unless you get a real bargain there I don't see any compelling reason to pick it.

People I respect disagree, but I'd call West at least somewhat of a speed trap. Sometimes I commute through there but frequently avoid it just for that reason.

[Balco9]

Thanks for the tip and info in West side M3.

[wilkermoo]

I have spoken to several people that say that West Richland does not have very much crime at all. I would be surprised if there was since there is only about 10,000 people in the town right now. If you drive around the neighborhoods in West Richland you can see that many police officers live in West Richland.

I have heard about the water issues, but they are trying to get approval for the Columbia Irrigation District to provide the water to many neighborhoods and that will help. Schools are newer because West Richland is building like crazy right now. I have heard nothing but good things so far about the middle school and Wiley Elementry.

In my opinion I would buy in West Richland vs. Pasco or Kennewick. Pasco has it's good side, but it has a pretty bad side to it. Kennewick is very crowded in my opinion and all the shopping is there so you have everybody from Oregon and the Tri-Cities coming in to town to go shopping, to the movies etc. Some people really like that, I am not one. You can find a nice house in West Richland off Bombing Range and you will probably get a little bit bigger lot. I agree that you have to like the cookie cutter subdivisions for now, but a friend of mine works for the Chamber of Commerce and seems to think that this area has big plans for West Richland. The wineries are nearby and newer, more expensive homes going up are expected to make West Richland a great place to live.

[Balco9]

That is interesting information wilkermoo and thank you.
But the speed traps are a big turn-off...it's like they have nothing
better to do with their time. I guess that is how they get paid.
Nothing worst than a ticket happy cop.

[wilkermoo]

I did not know about the speed traps, but I drive like my grandma so it would not matter. When I moved here I actually thought it was weird how few cops I saw because where I moved from they were everywhere. I have noticed more of them since the weather improved.

[Balco9]

Last time i came to visit the Tri-Cities, i was viewing neighhoods and i had a cop follow me for 6 miles in South Richland. That was very nerve racking!!!

[mustang34]

I don't know why people say cops here are over zealous. Seems like whenever some jerk is all over the road at 90 mph, the cops aren't there! It may seem like there are less cops because I think some are using unmarked cars.

[movin2008]

West Richland is a nice place, but there are different areas. The older part of West Richland can have some tougher areas, but there are many new parts with very expensive new houses and with affordable houses in family friendly neighborhoods within walking distance to the schools. The neighborhoods in WR can have larger lots and nice views. I would look in neighborhoods that branch off of Bombing Range Road, rather than those that branch off of Van Giesen. The WR schools are actually the Richland school district. Wiley Elementary is excellent as is Enterprise Middle School. Most of WR goes on to Hanford High, which many think is the better high school of the 2 in the district. Both schools are good schools, however. Look at the WASL scores for both high schools, by the way. They are great. We live in South Richland, but go to the schools in WR. If I were looking to move to Tri-Cities, I would only look in South Richland or the newer areas of WR (houses newer than 10-12 years). That is just what I am used to and what I like. There are many nice areas in all the cities. Good Luck!

[movin2008]

The speed traps are not really a big issue. I think your experiend Balco was a little unusual to be honest. There are areas to avoid speeding for sure. Van Giesen in WR, but it is not a big deal. I think it is easy to forget what it is like in other places. I spend some time in the Seattle area this weekend. There were speed traps on all the freeways there. Not so much like that here.