If Tacoma is so bad,why are people moving there? (Seattle: top neighborhood, apartment complex)

[chazbabylon]

Yes, Point Defiance is OK; as is anywhere in the North End.

I will reiterate: North Tacoma is a great place! Tacoma's crime statistics come mainly from the problems it has in the south and the east.

If you need to be a part of a really large city, then maybe Tacoma is not your place. But if you desire a mid-size city with a true urban character, then North Tacoma is plenty big enough.

[jeannern]

Point Defiance would be a good area. There are some rally beautiful places there, also if you follow Commencement Bay down towards Ruston/Defiance. Seems to be pretty well established. Good Luck!

[cobolt]

Yep....Pt Defiance is good. Ruston is good. North Tacoma (streets with letter names "A" "B" etc) are older and charming. Proctor District is good. The area around UPS (University of Puget Sound) is good. Nice houses. Older, established neighborhood. Houses there are rarely for sale. The hill is still working on cleaning out the riff raff, but it's much better there than in the past. Things are looking up.

[pirate_lafitte]

How has Hilltop turned out?

[mthomson]

Hilltop is actually a pretty nice place now...parts of it. There are still some places that I'm not comfortable in, but that's the case in most cities. Many parts of Hilltop have become really quite nice. What I don't know is what was put in place to keep it that way. There are some nice new homes, but I'm not sure if new conveniences were put in and if there are any new jobs around to keep it vibrant.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by mthomson

Hilltop is actually a pretty nice place now...parts of it. There are still some places that I'm not comfortable in, but that's the case in most cities. Many parts of Hilltop have become really quite nice. What I don't know is what was put in place to keep it that way. There are some nice new homes, but I'm not sure if new conveniences were put in and if there are any new jobs around to keep it vibrant.

I ask because Hilltop used to be knonw for violence and got some notoriety from the crack epidemic.

[Ira500]

The Hilltop is probably a couple of years behind Seattle's Central District...It has gotten better, but you still read about the occasional shooting there..

[Luke9686]

Hilltop has gotten better. I've only been here a short while, but most of hilltop is ok now. Lots of rehabs going on. It is becomming the "hip" area to be.

I live near Pt. D and like it.

[pirate_lafitte]

I have also heard the the imfamous "Tacoma Aroma" from the paper mills has been reduced.

[fwgis]

Originally Posted by sean98125

5 of Tacoma's 7 high schools have a dropout rate of over 40%

- Foss, Tacoma
- Lincoln, Tacoma
- Mount Tahoma, Tacoma
- Stadium, Tacoma
- Wilson, Tacoma

As a graduate of Wilson High School last year, I can assure you that the drop out rate is no where NEAR 40%. I had one friend drop out, and I know of 3 or 4 more.

As far as the general public education, it really is not that bad. I got admitted to all the schools I applied to. I was prepared for a tough university (Willamette University) by the Tacoma Public School system. I can't speak for the other high schools, but Wilson is a great school.

Also, Tacoma does NOT have a huge gang problem. It's mostly all wanna be's who are more funny than harmful.

I swear... People just don't "get" Tacoma. Oh well, we don't mind.