Thinking of moving to the Olympic Peninsula (Port Angeles, Port Townsend: real estate, job market)

[Shi.bear]

My partner and I have been looking into moving to Washington, specifically the Olympic Peninsula. What are some good cities near the forest that are fairly reasonably priced to locate to?? Young couple looking to start fresh where the population isn't too terribly high. We are not big city folk though we both were raised in one, it doesn't suit our lifestyle. Both enjoy the forests and oceans, though if we had to choose, prefer to live near the rainforest. Any thing helps.

[Hemlock140]

Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend are all suitable though none are near the ocean (they are on Puget Sound). All of western WA is considered temperate rainforest, with 40-60" of rain, though the Olympic National Forest gets over 100". For that you would be limited to LaPush, a very depressed and depressing little city. The only other city there is Forks, a bit bigger but also depressed, and about 20 miles from the ocean. For a closer-in but very quiet place near water and forests look at Seabeck, Quilcene, and Brinnon, the last two being very deeply forested and on/near the Hood Canal.

[TrueTimbers]

What size city?
Port Angles at 20,000 is the biggest.

It is very rural. I am concerned because you have never lived rural and remote.

[TribalCat]

The only one I'd consider a "city" is Port Angeles. The rest fall under "towns". They're small.

[Dendrite]

OP it's hard to answer without a little more information:

As a young couple I presume one or both of you will want/need jobs? If so, the job market in most of the towns on the peninsula including those mentioned (Forks, Quilcene, Brinnon) is going to be negligible to non-existent. Even the "large" population town on the peninsula (Port Angeles) currently has a tough job market.

You two may or may not have kids. If so, school rankings in these small peninsula towns might be another consideration for you.

Last, "reasonably priced" is relative of course depending upon where you are now living and what price scale you're used to, e.g. real estate prices in San Francisco vs. let's say the Midwest. For example, if you are currently living in the Bay Area then WA real estate prices (particularly in the outer lying areas of the peninsula) are going to look like a real bargain to you.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

First off...jobs are very scarce. Also, communities will not be welcoming or friendly. So bring cash, skills and thick skins.

[TrueTimbers]

Just don't get the unfriendly thing...

Took my spouse out to a birthday lunch at a new Vietnamese place in town, with shared tables, and we talked for an hour non stop with the couple we shared a table with.. Every time I leave home, I run into friendly folks.

So.. I would say experiences vary.

Don't want to beat that dead horse anymore though.

[Votre_Chef]

I used to live in Brinnon on Hood Canal and I enjoyed it, but you're far from everything. If you need more amenities, Sequim, Port Angeles, and Forks are all probably better bets than places like Brinnon, Hoodsport, Quilcene, etc.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by TrueTimbers

Just don't get the unfriendly thing...

Took my spouse out to a birthday lunch at a new Vietnamese place in town, with shared tables, and we talked for an hour non stop with the couple we shared a table with.. Every time I leave home, I run into friendly folks.

So.. I would say experiences vary.

Don't want to beat that dead horse anymore though.

Yes, TT, I agree with you, people that I have met in restaurants, coffee shops and other superficial situations, have been friendly; and anyone who has taken my money, from a retail clerk, to a contractor, to a banker, has been friendly. But they are not friends. Therein lies the difference on the OP in the PNW IMHO

[TrueTimbers]

Thanks TPS...
I see what you are saying and will pleed guilty. A nice deep engaged conversation with a stranger, or a chat with an aquatence is "friends" enough for my spouse and I. Once in a blue moon is more than enough to get together with just for the sake of getting together.

Thanks.. That makes sense too me know, when you are always saying people are so unfriendly. ... I don't see it because by your definition I am unfriendly too... Though I would talk your ear off whenever I ran into you. Maybe say we should get together someday, but never do it.. See that's normal for me.. Heck where we came from no one even had the long chats when you bumped into them.. That's why we think it is so friendly here.
(IMO, heck of alot more friendly than other rural places we lived in before.)