Pro's and Con's of living in Raymond, Shelton, or Port Roberts, Washington (Bellingham: low crime, home security) - (WA) - City-Data Forum

mccarol1956 · 02-19-2018, 08:10 PM

Husband and I are getting ready to retire. That said we're looking for where we want to retire. We lived in Brookings Oregon for many years and love that kind of climate. Unfortunately cost in Brookings have skyrocketed and we can't afford to move back home.

We're looking all along the Oregon and Washington coast and Inland up to an hour 4 a nice place that is safe and has low crime to retire in.

Raymond, Shelton, and Point Roberts were some of the Washington places we were considering.

After reading on here we have found that both Raymond and Shelton are very high crime and may not be right place for two retirees.

We're looking for suggestions and opinions on where to look around the Washington coast that we would feel safe and it crime was lower to almost non-existent. I know that probably isn't easy but I would appreciate any help.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions opinions Etc.

CrazyDonkey · 02-19-2018, 10:22 PM

What's your budget?

If looking at the Coast, why not live on the Coast:

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

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4...?fullpage=true

Look at Birch Bay Village:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...?fullpage=true

Birch Bay Village, Birch Bay WA

jacqueg · 02-19-2018, 10:29 PM

I don't know anything about Port Roberts, except that it is a US enclave in Canada.

Of the other two, I'd choose Raymond. There's not a whole lot of there there anymore, but it seems to me that it is ripe for a renaissance. Beautiful area.

Diana Holbrook · 02-20-2018, 11:34 AM

I like Shelton. Have had a few clients buy and move there in the last few months. You can get a lot more for your money there than in nearby Olympia, and that is attracting new growth. Shelton has always been a timber town, and it had some down years with downturns in the timber industry, but the mill is running again, and there's a lot of good business in the downtown area. Good restaurants and services there... no real need to even GO to Olympia any more.

Is there some "crime"? Sure. I wouldn't say "HIGH" crime rate... Petty property crime... Same as anywhere. People seem surprised, but I think it's just that criminals can now drive too, and crime is no longer only in the city. It's not hard to defend yourself against if you take a few home security measures.

mccarol1956 · 02-22-2018, 11:40 AM

We want t be able to do a lot of traveling in our retired years so we are looking to keep things under $140,000 which most likely means a mobile and probably in a park if we want to be on the coast. Problem is most parks will not allow our dog. Parks are currently only allowing 15-20 lb dogs. Unfortunately ours weight 100 lbs average. He is a lab and is super friendly but they wont take him. We wont part with him for any reason.

Thank you for the links though! The properties are awesome!

CrazyDonkey · 02-22-2018, 06:54 PM

ndcairngorm · 02-22-2018, 07:05 PM

If crime rate is your priority, investigate Point Roberts. It has almost zero crime. One of the main reasons is also its only drawback, in some people's estimation; and that is because there is no way to enter Point Roberts without going through the U.S. border. Once I was behind a few cars at the border on a Saturday night late, when I saw three of them do a U-turn at the border, having obviously been denied entry. When I got up to the border patrol station, the officer was muttering about "joyriding teenagers," saying that there was no reason at all that they needed to be coming in and wreaking havoc. The end result of all this censoring is that Point Roberts is essentially a huge gated subdivision, with the US government as the gatekeeper.

Of course this has its drawbacks, since to leave Point Roberts to do some shopping (other than groceries and other basic hardware) or to visit the doctor, or for children above second grade to go to school, they must also go through the checkpoints - Canadian this time - and either continue on down to Blaine or Bellingham, thus traveling through yet another border - or do all the necessary things in Canada.

Many retirees live here, and there are many activities in the area, depending on your interests.

mccarol1956 · 02-23-2018, 10:42 AM

Awesome advice! Thanks so much! We will look at Point Roberts.

CrazyDonkey · 02-23-2018, 01:38 PM

The main negatives with PR are the need to:

1) cross two international borders for specialty medical appts/care.

2) be airlifted to Bellingham, if you have a medical emergency.

About 1,500 live year-round in PR, so socially like a small town.

ndcairngorm · 02-24-2018, 07:07 AM

If you have a medical emergency in Point Roberts, you dial 911, the Point Roberts EMT comes to diagnose and/or transport you, and takes you to a point past the Canadian border and just north of the US border at Blaine, where you get transferred to the Bellingham ambulance which will be waiting there. Airlift is an option.