Safest/Best place to live outside Yakima (West Valley, Toppenish: renting, low crime)

[wawawa]

My husband has a job prospect in Yakima. They really want him but I told him I don't want to live in Yakima because of all the horrible things I've read about the city. If we could life just outside of Yakima in a nicer and safer neighborhood and then commute that would make me feel much better. Can anyone recommend a good city to live in close but outside of Yakima?

[missyM]

Selah has a very low crime rate. Since it is a more desirable place to live, it's a bit more expensive to buy a house. The school district is much better than in Yakima also, which is another factor in cost of housing. The good news is, there is much, much more to choose from in Selah than there was a year ago because of the housing slowdown.
It is a 15-30 minute commute to Yakima.

[wawawa]

We plan on renting because we wouldn't live there very long. As long as its safer we don't mind the commute. Thanks MissyM.

[springshades]

Toppenish is actually a REALLY cute town if you don't mind the fact that it is about 20 miles away.

Best thing about that area of washington is all the fruit during the summer, omg... hope you're there long enough to get to have some fresh from the fruit stands.

[lifes2short]

I have lived in Toppenish and would never recommend it, sorry!

Look into the West Valley area of Yakima.

[ol'gfromeastsideyakima]

toppenish has a major gang problem. avoid the whole area move to kansas.

[M3 Mitch]

Take a look at the northen side of Yakima, say around 40th ave north of Summitview. There are some pretty nice areas there. The south and east sides of town are rougher but not exactly Beruit. I have friends who live in this part of town, older couple, and they like it, I do see some apt. buildings on 40th. I live about 40 miles to the east so don't know much on the details.

[Christal Carreno]

Omg!! I have same problem! We live in California my husband is a semi-driver and his brokers need him in WA!! We know we don't want to live inside yakima! We heard Selah is a pretty decent place to raise children. But I don't know where the nice family neighborhoods are! This is so scary! If someone out there knows more of Salah please reply back THANX!!!

[skinem]

Most all of Selah is fine. The nicer areas are north side of town--up and off Goodlander, or out Wenas Valley. Like most towns, the higher up the hills you go, the nicer the neighborhoods. Selah has plenty of hills.

My family was there for a couple of decades...liked it quite a bit. Nice place, small town feel because it is a small town and feels further removed from Yakima than it is---basically separated by a ridge.