Longview Washington (Kelso, Newport, Long Beach: apartments, rentals, high crime)

[JeffsWife]

Hello! Me and my husband are looking at Longview Wa for a possible move. We have not heard anything to encourage the move. I have some concerns about bad neighborhoods since there is a strong chance I will be walking to work.

Is there anyone who still lives in Longview that knows what parts to avoid? Anything at all positive about being there? I have done a lot of reading and I am seeking more details.

What attracts us to Longview is being an hour and a half from Long Beach Wa. We LoVvVvE Long Beach and we really want to move there. Due to the fact my husband would have to commute 80 miles into Longview for his job it would be a horrible gas cost.

We noticed a few apartments with excellent rent prices in Longview. That is very attractive for us too.

Our other options are, Newport Oregon, and McMinnville Oregon.

Looks like we will have to stay a night in Longview and check out a few apartments.

[kc2sweet4ne1]

I would chose to live in Oregon or ANY other city in Washington. IMO, Longview is not where I would want to be or to raise kids.

[wythors]

Jeffswife, where do you live currently?

[JeffsWife]

Wythors Hello. Me and my husband live in Portland. For several and some personal resons we want to move further away and I am keeping this part private. We just want to hear details postive or negative about Longview, it has been very difficult so far.

[JeffsWife]

Kc2Sweet4Ne1

I am glad you choose to stay in Oregon & that is fine for you. BUT for my and my husband we have many reasons for our choice to move and like I have said I am keeping those feelings and thoughts private. I just don't want to debate why we are going out of state. Why is Longview so rotten and horrible exactly why? I am not being sarcastic I just would LOVE to get some facts from peeps that live there currently. We are also not raising childeren just birds. LOL. I guess they are "kids".....

[kc2sweet4ne1]

Jeff's wife-

I didn't ask why you were moving, so don't worry about any debates on that.

I also didn't say that Longview was rotten and horrible. I simply said that it isn't where I would choose to live or raise kids. You were asking for opinions - that is mine.

Once again - in my own opinion - Longview has a really depressed feel about it to me. It's a tough one to describle. It feels like a "nothingness" to ME. I know people who live there and some of them will never move from there, either because of family, jobs or they actually like it. I also have a group of friends who hate it, but will never leave, they will just contine to talk about how much they hate it. I, personally, just don't like it. There isn't much to do and the teenagers just drive around the "cruising strip" all night. Some of them are good kids, but they are bored. That is all there seems to do down there. Some of them cause trouble.

It's all a matter of preference. Get a hotel room and spend a weekend there. Drive around, do some things if you can find things that interest you, then make a decision.

[pm352000]

Hi jeffs wife . I just stumbled on this site so I hope I am doing this right. I live in woodland about 15min south of longview. I have been selling homes in the area for 10 years so I have some knowledge of longview. The biggest problem they have is meth abuse and with it follows other crimes related to it. The biggest area to stay away from is the highland neighborhood and west kelso and castle rock. There maybe a few good places in those areas but they seem to be higher crime areas . A drive through the neighborhood will tell the story. the area around the sacajawea lake on the north side is the best area doc, lawyers ect. the town seems to be making strides to better itself but I would be concerned on the area schools. If you are looking to get closer to the beach there are a few small towns off of sr4 that don't look to bad. also woodland , kalama ,& carols are closer than portland to the beach and they seem to have a far less crime problems. longview is alot less expensive for housing and renting than these areas.best of luck! pam

Originally Posted by JeffsWife

Hello! Me and my husband are looking at Longview Wa for a possible move. We have not heard anything to encourage the move. I have some concerns about bad neighborhoods since there is a strong chance I will be walking to work.

Is there anyone who still lives in Longview that knows what parts to avoid? Anything at all positive about being there? I have done a lot of reading and I am seeking more details.

What attracts us to Longview is being an hour and a half from Long Beach Wa. We LoVvVvE Long Beach and we really want to move there. Due to the fact my husband would have to commute 80 miles into Longview for his job it would be a horrible gas cost.

We noticed a few apartments with excellent rent prices in Longview. That is very attractive for us too.

Our other options are, Newport Oregon, and McMinnville Oregon.

Looks like we will have to stay a night in Longview and check out a few apartments.

[williboy]

A very dear friend of mine lives in Longview, WA with his wife and two young children. He loves the area and I've not ever heard anything bad about the area from him. I'm sure there must be some bad there from these posts, but you should definitely check out the area in person because there are some who really like the area. They moved there a couple of years ago from Fresno, CA.

[al152]

I live in longview out on the west end.There are areas that are less desirable like the highlands.I think crime is on the decrese with the new jail up and open.

[screminjc]

I moved to Kelso/Longview 12 yrs. ago from So. Ca. and have regretted it since day one. Information available show percentages below average in catagories such as education, employment opportunities and income. I would think this would be a negative vote for most considering a new location to live. The only above average considerations here is the high crime rate, drug activity, unemployed and homeless. This I consider another negative. My opinion is the negative factors by far out weigh the good and desirable elements that are scattered around town. The undesireable's are not going to leave this area and they are very co-mingled in just about every neighborhood, not just the highlands. There are unkept rentals available all over town at cheap monthly rent and below satisfactory conditions. I wouldn't have to look any further than the graphs showing statstics for this area to convince me to look further down the road. Best wishes to you in finding a location that you will enjoy to live in.