Moving to WA - torn between West and East WA (Seattle: houses, neighborhoods)

[rantiquity]

Also be reminded that Seattle is considering a city income tax on top of one of the highest sale tax in the state. Right now the state only has property taxes and a sale tax but no state income tax.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by NW4me

I think you meant to say "Eastern" there?

You are right, but Clallam county voted for Trump and it is west of Seattle.

[homesinseattle]

Consider the Edmonds Bowl area. Really nice community, easy commute to Everett but not too far from all the things that are great about Seattle..

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Blindtom

Traffic will not be as much of an issue. It still may be an issue at times.

It will be an issue once a month seriously. If the OP doesn't live south of Northgate/Kirkland, traffic will not be an issue for going to Everett in the morning.

[CrazyDonkey]

Cost of living is significantly higher in Everett than Spokane, primarily due to housing costs.

Moderator cut: Link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...=Spokane%2C+WA

If the salaries are similar, your money will go much further in Spokane than in Everett, making it much easier to save up to buy a house, for instance.

[MItoWA]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Consider the Edmonds Bowl area. Really nice community, easy commute to Everett but not too far from all the things that are great about Seattle..

We heard good things about Edmonds but didn't have a chance to see it. We'll check it out if we end up taking the Everett job.

Originally Posted by Botev1912

It will be an issue once a month seriously. If the OP doesn't live south of Northgate/Kirkland, traffic will not be an issue for going to Everett in the morning.

I'm told by current employees at the Everett job that it's more or less a "reverse commute". Plus most days I would be leaving around 6:30 am and heading home around 7:00 pm, so I hope I'd miss the worst of it.

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Cost of living is significantly higher in Everett than Spokane, primarily due to housing costs.

Moderator cut: Link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...=Spokane%2C+WA

If the salaries are similar, your money will go much further in Spokane than in Everett, making it much easier to save up to buy a house, for instance.

It's hard to say exactly. My initial salary would be higher in Spokane, but would thereafter rise with inflation. The Everett job would start lower but rise significantly over the first several years, and would also offer a significant pension contribution after my first year. I would also expect my fiancee to have a much easier time finding a full time job in the Seattle area, but her job allows her to work freelance anywhere - but this would likely pay less overall. In the end, I expect things to monetarily "even out" or be slightly less in the Seattle area.

Honestly, if the jobs were in opposite cities, I would be moving to Spokane. But with such a great opportunity in Everett, I'm hoping to find a smaller/walkable community on the west side of the state, with the added benefit of being able to take advantage of having all the great sights and things to do in Seattle nearby.

[Seacove]

Cost of living much higher in the west. If one already has a job offer in Spokane, it would seem like a very solid choice.

[CrazyDonkey]

Everett: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...?fullpage=true

Spokane: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...?fullpage=true

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

I live in Western Washington. Edmonds is a very pretty suburb, on the water & lots of trees. It also has a ferry that crosses to Kingston, for easy access to the Kitsap & Olympic Peninsulas, which are gorgeous. Edmonds is on the pricey side. I find the whole Everett area & surrounding communities to be very unappealing, but if you work there & don’t live there, I guess it would be OK.

I’ve visited Spokane a lot...I think the city itself is very appealing, but you will get colder winters with snow...but you’re also a short trip to Northern Idaho & Western Montana, both are great, uncrowded places for outdoor recreation. As mentioned, your COL will be lower in Spokane. The summers in either area are great.

[Botev1912]

I think even Everett is nicer than Spokane. Coeur d'Alene is a different story.