Moving from AZ to WA- need advice on an area to live. (bainbridge island, poulsbo, port ludlow or sequim) (Seattle: sale, renting) - Washington - City-Data Forum

ljl3413 · 05-08-2015, 11:25 AM

Hi!

My family is moving from Phoenix, Arizona to Washington state. I am 32 years old, married, have a 14 month old son and 4 dogs. My brother (30) and his wife (28) will also be moving with us. We are trying to decide which is the best place to live from us but are having trouble deciding. We think we have narrowed it down to Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Kingston, Port Ludlow or Sequim. We are looking for a house with a little land and an ADU. The only area of Washington I really know is Port Townsend so all these other areas are very new to me. I do not want to be to far from drs or a hospital, shopping or at least a grocery store. Can anyone give me their opinions of these areas and what they think. We do not go OUT OUT a lot but I would like a place with some nice restaurants and bars I could go to from time to time. Overall we are looking for a small town feel but some ammenties. My brother is a free lance videograpger and will need to find some work as well. I am confused and any advice will help. Thank you!!!

Ira500 · 05-08-2015, 11:39 AM

As far as videographer work for your brother, Sequim would be too far away from a lot of employers. Port Ludlow and Kingston would be a little better, but not nearly as close to employers as Bainbridge and Poulsbo. Bainbridge is ideal in that it's a direct ferry to downtown Seattle. Not ideal in that it's expensive. it does have a small town feel. But Poulsbo's cool! It's got an old downtown, and it's really pretty. Good restaurants and bars that won't break the bank. A less expensive place to live than Bainbridge.

fromtoronto · 05-08-2015, 01:00 PM

We're making a similar move, so I will eavesdrop on this thread if you don't mind.

prosin · 05-08-2015, 11:57 PM

Ira's right, probably not much call for videographers on the Olympic Peninsula--it is too remote and sparsely populated.

You don't mention whether you would be renting or buying, or if you need to commute for work. Renting with four dogs may be a difficult task.

All the places you mention have shopping, bars, restaurants, and health care. Port Ludlow is the smallest and most remote. It may not be a good fit for someone your age--it's really more of a retirement community. Also, although not an issue for you yet, but the schools serving Port Ludlow are several miles away. Port Hadlock/Chimicum might be a better choice if you truly wanted to locate in that area.

Dendrite · 05-09-2015, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljl3413

We think we have narrowed it down to Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Kingston, Port Ludlow or Sequim.

I agree with Ira500. Bainbridge meets all the criteria you listed if you can afford the price of admission. It has the small town feel you seek with an easy shot to pretty much everything you could ever want right across the water in Seattle.

I'll toss in this thought for you as well. Since you have a child (although not school age yet), the caliber of public schools in the area you decide upon will likely be a consideration for you also. Bainbridge school district is ranked amongst the top in the state.

I think you should pursue your hunt in the order you listed in your OP. As prosin said above, you'd probably find Sequim too small and too far out (isolated) for the type of work you do.

rantiquity · 05-09-2015, 11:54 AM

If you have to commute to Seattle then either Poulsbo or Bainbridge is the place for you. Although the traffic in both can be a challenge especially Bainbridge Island when the ferry is off loading and living on some of side street can give you heart burn entering the main highway. Bainbridge is more expensive than on the other side of the Hoods Canal bridge and I must warn you that a lot of the land in both Bainbridge and Poulsbo area are Indian lands with a lot of restrictions.
Now about Port Ludlow..its isolated as far as having children...its more of a retirement community without any real stores of any kind.
I really can't comment on Kingston as I have only been there to catch the ferry.

If your brother's work can be done at home or on the internet I see no problem with Sequim.
Sequim has good medical facilities as long as it doesn't get to complicated and the rap that Sequim is just a retirement community is blown out of proportion. There a lot of young families in Sequim. That is one reason Sequim school district wants to build another grade school. There are two now. Sequim has roughly 5000 population but another roughly 15K in the valley and the foot hills of the ONP.
Dogs...Sequim has a nice dog park close to down town and close by that is children's play ground, several duck ponds. Lots of trails and play fields for all children sports are in the same area east of downtown. In the early summer there is fishing just for kids in the same area. All within walking distance of downtown.

The Jamestown casino just east of Sequim has had some top notch entertainment over the years.

Can't think of anything else to tell you but if you have a question beyond the above I will be happy to try to answer.

ljl3413 · 05-12-2015, 10:49 PM

Thanks for all your input! I am a stay at home mom and my husband works from home so there will no be communiting or looking for work for us. I am also looking to buy. Since my child isn't school age yet I am not totally focused on schools right now but still want there to be decent schools for re sale in the future. My #1 would be Bainbridge but probably won't be able to afford anything there right now

Jumpindogs · 05-13-2015, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dendrite

I'll toss in this thought for you as well. Since you have a child (although not school age yet), the caliber of public schools in the area you decide upon will likely be a consideration for you also. Bainbridge school district is ranked amongst the top in the state.

If you are so inclined, Bainbridge has a really good K-8 interdenominational Christian school run by a friend of mine. I've toured the school. I am very fussy. If we had kids it's the kind of school...and for so many reasons other than the faith-based aspect...I would choose. They do not teach doctrine or theology though.

CARDEN COUNTRY SCHOOL | Providing students with the skills they need to find joy in life.

rantiquity · 05-13-2015, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljl3413

Thanks for all your input! I am a stay at home mom and my husband works from home so there will no be communiting or looking for work for us. I am also looking to buy. Since my child isn't school age yet I am not totally focused on schools right now but still want there to be decent schools for re sale in the future. My #1 would be Bainbridge but probably won't be able to afford anything there right now

Just FYI about private schools in the Sequim area...if you are inclined away from public schools there is a school north of Sequim call Five Acre School is a small independent school which has a very good reputation. My grandson went there and it has a very personalized touch. Well worth checking out.

Five Acre School - Where Children Have Room To Grow

Truth11 · 10-27-2015, 02:35 PM

You seem fortunate enough to be able to work from home so really you don't need to be in a congested area...I'm in Forks which is really a challenge for jobs! I'd love to be in a place like Poulsbo which is closer to all the action than here being 50 miles from the nearest decent town.