Coastal Towns/Cities (Tacoma, Everett, Bellingham: rentals, low crime, job market)

[Darkyiel]

My wife and I want to move to the coast in the next few years and would like some information. We're looking for a small town preferably off of a larger city with low a crime rate and low risk of natural disasters. Job opportunities and low living cost is highly preferred.

We would also consider a place with the above specifications that isn't on the coast as long as there is little to no snow.

Looking at Washington for the most part but would also consider Oregon.

[hamellr]

Head's up, you're not going to find what you're looking for. If there were jobs, along with a low cost of living, everyone would be living there.

The Washington Coast is actually pretty sparsely populated for a variety of historical reasons. The largest city as far as I know is Aberdeen which is at the "end" of Gray's Harbor. Your other cities along the Washington Coast are pretty much Long Beach/Illwaco, Westport and Ocean Shores. All are tsunami targets. Your primary jobs in all of those cities are tourist driven, and fishing boats.

The Oregon Coast is not much better, but at least has more population. Your large cities are Astoria, Tillamook, Newport, Lincoln City and Coos Bay/North Bend. Unfortunately the repeated hits to the timber industry and the "Dead Zone" that has decimated the fishing industry has left those cities hanging. Coos Bay shouldn't even be on the consideration list for that reason. The other four cities only have an economy based primarily on tourism. All have the same Tsunami risk that Washington Cities have.

Small towns outside of those cities abound, but are primarily geared towards summer vacation rentals and nothing else.

[Seacove]

As the poster noted above, Washington is not at low risk for natural disasters. Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes are all real risks. Also, if you have not lived in an area with light rain or cloud cover for several months every year, that is something you should consider.

[PollyGlott]

You may wish to consider living on/near Puget Sound, as opposed to on the coast. You still have water nearby, but also a lot more opportunities.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by PollyGlott

You may wish to consider living on/near Puget Sound, as opposed to on the coast. You still have water nearby, but also a lot more opportunities.

True, but the natural disaster risk still applies and there's a LOT more traffic and higher cost of living.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Head's up, you're not going to find what you're looking for.

Hi Darkyiel:

As others have said, it will be tough to find what you're looking for as stated in your OP.

IOW, it will be unlikely that you can have it both ways: if you find a small coastal town with low crime and less expensive realty and living (I'm trying not to use the word "low" for the price of coastal properties), then odds are there will be little to no available job market. OTOH, if you find an area with a larger job market pool, odds are it will be in a bigger city that will probably have more crime and have a higher cost of living.

The only way that it might work would be to commute. For example, Hamellr mentioned the coastal town of Aberdeen (not necessarily recommending Aberdeen as being "low crime", just using it as a what if example being the biggest smaller town on WA's pacific coast). If you found a job in, say, Olympia (big town) and you lived in Aberdeen (little town), you could potentially "have it both ways". At least as long as you didn't mind the 2 hour (or more depending upon traffic) round trip commute each day.

As you requested, little to no snow along the western WA coastline but do be prepared for lots of wind, gray skies and rain...

[NWbyNW]

The Washington Coast is rather limited, but I will point a few out.

OUTER COAST

Port Angeles - Shopping, more limited, ferry to Canada. Downtown, working class area. Nice ocean and mountain views. High presence of border patrol.

Aberdeen / Hoquaim - Limited shopping, depressed economy and poor weather. Far from any shopping centers.

Port Townsend - Retiree town with Victorian downtown and quaint main street. Limited shopping, small hospital, limited services. Nearest big malls 45 minute drive to Silverdale or Sequim.

Long Beach Area - Limited services, small hospital. Tourist season in summer, small town, limited shopping.

INNER COAST

Bellingham - Mid sized city with all the services and shopping of a large city. Beautiful scenery and recreation in all directions. Farmers market and "local"
oriented town.

Poulsbo - Small town close to the shopping of Silverdale. Services and shopping in town. Norwegian themed downtown.
Gig Harbor - Marina town with views of Mt. Rainier. Near shopping in Tacoma or Silverdale. Shopping sector growing itself. New hospital.

Mukilteo - Quaint waterfront and lighthouse. Ferry to Whidbey Island. Right next to the shopping of Everett and Lynnwood. All modern services of a big city, small town feel. Weekly farmers markets.

Whidbey Island - Many quaint towns like Coupeville, Langley, might be worth looking into. Services vary, shopping varies.

Of course there are more options, but I will narrow it down to more what you like.

[Seacove]

Nice list!

[NWbyNW]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Nice list!

Hey thanks! Nice to hear that sometimes.

[rainforest338]

I would check Ocean Shores and Moclips. Far enough away from Aberdeen to get the safe, small town feel. Looked to be a clean area, very dependent on tourism.