Where to live in Tacoma? (Seattle, Gig Harbor: apartments, rentals, condos)

[pjrichmond]

I'm taking a job Gig Harbor, Wash. at the end of the month but I can't really afford to live in Gig Harbor itself. It was recommended that I live in Tacoma, but I've visited there and it seems like a really unpleasant place to live.

I'm a 20-something, left-leaning woman, and I'd like to live in area with few coffee shops and pubs, where maybe some other people in my age group would live.

Can anyone recommend a place in Tacoma to live? (Especially somewhere that is affordable). My other option is to live in Seattle and commute to Gig Harbor, which I've read on here would be a terrible commute.

Thanks!

[mthomson]

The "6th Ave" District of Tacoma is a great place for people of your demographic to live. This area was ugly and crime-ridden 10 years ago, and now is one of the most rapidly growing places in our area.
Great small coffee shops, great night life, lots of rentals, lots of beautiful condos to buy, cool old houses if that's your deal. Moderator cut: soliciting deleted

[ChadPettingill]

Yeah 6th really has turned around. North Tacoma is very nice and safe but pricey.

[Xenobion]

What's your price range for rent? Decent apartments can go for 600ish in Tacoma in the North End even.

[Vagus]

Originally Posted by pjrichmond

I'm taking a job Gig Harbor, Wash. at the end of the month but I can't really afford to live in Gig Harbor itself. It was recommended that I live in Tacoma, but I've visited there and it seems like a really unpleasant place to live.

Where did you go when you visited? If all you saw was South Tacoma Way, well, yeah, pretty unpleasant. The first time I went through I was pretty unimpressed too, but after living there for a year I loved it. There are actually quite a lot of nice areas.