Spokane-Yakima-Kennewick in terms of infrastructure/crime/weather (Seattle, Tacoma: houses, find a job)

[dAqS6R0gRQet]

according to CNN's "cost of living" (outside of Moses Lake which appears to be an up and coming area but most likely out of the question) these 3 are the cheapest cities in the state of Washington compared to the Sarasota, FL area which I'm moving from across the board based on salary equivalency which makes them more attractive than the other well-known cities like Seattle (out of the question) but even Tacoma and Vancouver are both about even with Sarasota but id' prefer to live a bit more financially comfortable on-top of all the other huge FREE environmental perks moving to that area of the country will be providing.

Olympia may get the final decision since its listed as still cheaper than Seattle and Tacoma and hearing about the weather being less stable east of the mountains might make it a top contender but that depends on this topic's question:

which is to anyone who's living(lived) in those areas, how did you feel about them based on those 3 aspects in the topic?

please leave any comments pertaining to you being "depressed" cause its cloudy/raining or the attitudes of people/other social activities and other general tropes i see from most people complain about, that has zero influence on how i grade locations.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by dAqS6R0gRQet

according to CNN's "cost of living" (outside of Moses Lake which appears to be an up and coming area but most likely out of the question) these 3 are the cheapest cities in the state of Washington compared to the Sarasota, FL area which I'm moving from across the board based on salary equivalency which makes them more attractive than the other well-known cities like Seattle (out of the question) but even Tacoma and Vancouver are both about even with Sarasota but id' prefer to live a bit more financially comfortable on-top of all the other huge FREE environmental perks moving to that area of the country will be providing.

Olympia may get the final decision since its listed as still cheaper than Seattle and Tacoma and hearing about the weather being less stable east of the mountains might make it a top contender but that depends on this topic's question:

which is to anyone who's living(lived) in those areas, how did you feel about them based on those 3 aspects in the topic?

please leave any comments pertaining to you being "depressed" cause its cloudy/raining or the attitudes of people/other social activities and other general tropes i see from most people complain about, that has zero influence on how i grade locations.

For context, I was raised near New orleans and lived in the Tri Cities (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco) for 20 years and spent plenty of time in Seattle area and some time in Spokane.

Kennewick - Best climate in the PNW if you like sunny climate but the winter is still plenty overcast, the Spring is too windy, and the summer can get a bit hot. The Tri Cities have been very fast growing everything looks clean and fresh, the crime is low, schools are good, housing is inexpensive. It is a desert and depending on your opinion, is kind of ugly. There is plenty of water through the rivers running through though.

Yakima - close to the Tri Cities but more agricultural and much more crime than Tri Cities...I wouldn't consider it myself.

Spokane - The biggest of the 3 with an actual downtown. It also has its crime areas but you can avoid it in some areas or go to Spokane Valley. It's definitely colder here in winter with more snow but you do get green pine trees naturally growing in the area.

Tacoma - Is being revitalized. Beautiful city with some areas you need to avoid. Yes a bit more expensive than eastern Washington but if you want to be in a city in the Seattle area that is reasonably priced, Tacoma is it.

Vancouver - Haven't spent much time here but it seems like a really good spot right across from Portland.

[dAqS6R0gRQet]

YES, i just did some research today and definitely decided it'll be east of the Rockies, Spokane gets half the amount of annual precipitation as the Seattle and other cities near the sound get.

and then the Kennewick area getting HALF of the spokan rain and virtually no snow, and a dry climate and only about 5-10 degrees higher annual average temp to Spokane ,makes it my number 1 focus, with Spokane 2nd

so glad I found out that the area east of Seattle is actually prevalent cause i was all but ruling out Washington aftering realizing how expensive the Seattle/Portland areas are and was focusing on Provo/SLC Utah which had the heavy religion aspects and their smog "inversion" stuff and still not being away from the 4+ months of manditory A/C running cause of 90+ degree days

[M3 Mitch]

Kennewick is one of the at least 4 "Tri-Cities". The others are Richland, West Richland, and Pasco. You could include Finley, or not. All have a sunny, hot summer, and an overcast but not terribly cold winter. You can research them on the "Data" side of this site.

Are you working or retired? You don't mention work, if you are still working, seems to me living in an area where you can find a job would matter.

While I agree with Tall Traveler and wouldn't want to live inside the Yakima city limits, there are nearby areas like Terrace Heights, that are quite nice. Actually the North-West part of Yakima itself ain't bad, but you would be linked politically with the less desirable parts of the city.

All that said, I do like to shop in Yakima at least occasionally.

Spokane has a different climate, a good bit more snow in the winter. It, too, is a place I like to visit but wouldn't want to live there. But again several stores and restaurants that I like to visit when I am there.

I visit the wet side so infrequently I will refrain from commenting on it.

[pnwguy2]

The Tri-Cities have the best weather, and lately the best economy. Houses are being bought up in days. Lots of new development. The area feels quite vibrant, but does not offer as many amenities say, as Spokane, which has a larger population.

[PS90]

Just wanted to note that none of your initial three choices are what most non-Washingtonians think of when they think of "Washington state". Most people from the East Coast think of Washington as constantly rainy with lots of greenery and trees.

Although Spokane has plenty of forested areas, and they get thicker as you go North and East, it still has lots of open plains to the West and especially to the South that are brown/golden colored for most of the year.

And Yakima and Tri-Cities are high desert - not much in the way of temperate forest until you head West toward the Cascades, or head to Spokane.

[Jane917]

Have you considered the Wenatchee Valley? Temperate weather (although this year was a bad winter), very low utility rates, lots of nearby recreation, cultural events galore in Leavenworth and Chelan, not to mention wineries. We lived there 13 years before we moved to Clark County. Wenatchee has a lot going for it.

[Botev1912]

Spokane is much greener than Tri-Cities and has a mountain. Tri-Cities is warmer, drier, newer and cleaner.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Spokane is much greener than Tri-Cities and has a mountain. Tri-Cities is warmer, drier, newer and cleaner.

While I generally agree with you, Tri-Cities also has a mountain, or mountains. (Horse Heaven Hills, and Rattlesnake Ridge), but those who think the region is flat are "flat" out wrong.

Tri-Cities greens up nicely, and is already here in mid-March.

The development is strong, new, but cleaner? Not sure about that. I have some concerns about clean development here, but the positives probably out way the negatives.

[dAqS6R0gRQet]

Originally Posted by Jane917

Have you considered the Wenatchee Valley? Temperate weather (although this year was a bad winter), very low utility rates, lots of nearby recreation, cultural events galore in Leavenworth and Chelan, not to mention wineries. We lived there 13 years before we moved to Clark County. Wenatchee has a lot going for it.

it was one of the final few areas i looked at but the climate seems to be pretty much the same in all aspects as tri-cities just with much more snowfall on average so that eliminated it.