Best/Worst places in Washington (quality of life, prices, stores)

[vette-dude]

Originally Posted by coffeebeans

If you're interested in the Olympic Peninsula, the only place that's not ghetto is Sequim. The rest of it is absolutely beautiful, but very ghetto. =/

Ghetto, don't think so...Silverdale and Port Orchard are not ghetto.....Sequim, that's crazy....Poulsbo is also a cool place to live,shop....everyone has an opinion like you know what....

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by vette-dude

Ghetto, don't think so...Silverdale and Port Orchard are not ghetto.....Sequim, that's crazy....Poulsbo is also a cool place to live,shop....everyone has an opinion like you know what....

How about the area in Custer?

[coffeebeans]

Originally Posted by vette-dude

Ghetto, don't think so...Silverdale and Port Orchard are not ghetto.....Sequim, that's crazy....Poulsbo is also a cool place to live,shop....everyone has an opinion like you know what....

hehe, sorry... I've had so many replies to that "ghetto" statement since I first posted it waaaay back when. That's my bad for using such a vauge term. I finally decided to come back here & clarify.

I grew up in Port Angeles and am very familiar with everything around it. I suppose I shouldn't have said the whole Peninsula, I'm very familiar with Sequim and everything west of it all the way to the coast. Though I have to say, *I* wouldn't be happy living anywhere on the Peninsula anymore, it's just too far from city life. I mean I love living in Western Washington where I can see and feel and enjoy nature and the great outdoors on a daily basis, but the towns in that very western corner are just too small and secluded for my tastes. I like to be within 1 hour of tall buildings and shopping with choices.

So what did I mean by "ghetto"? Certainly not that there's a crime problem. There isn't enough activity of any kind over there to worry about crime. I was referring to the economy. The streets of Port Angeles are lined with empty buildings and businesses on the brink of going under. It makes me so sad everytime I go back to visit. Every year the population and economy seem to shrivel while the number of empty buildings grows. It's getting an overall deserted, unkempt & shabby look. (In contrast the growth and polished streets of Sequim are striking. Like a little flower in the desert. This is why I held Sequim out of my "ghetto" comment.)

The elementary and middle schools in Port Angeles were overflowing when I was a kid but just recently one of the middle schools shut down and the town's kids easily fit into the sole remaining middle school. The high school used to use portable classrooms to accomidate all the teens, now the portables are gone and they don't even fill their permanent buildings.

Oh wow, there's so much more could say, but I suppose this message will at least clear up the meaning of my original post.

Okay, one more thing I just have to say. I always hear people talk about how beautiful the area is... and to a certain extent I have to agree. Yes, the mountains and the water and the trees & sky are AMAZING! But the broken down city is such a black mark against nature's backdrop that imo it really screws up the whole "beautiful" image. I see how beautiful nature is over there and it makes me sad and dissapointed that the inhabitants haven't held up their end.

((oh no! again I get the sense that I've said too much. No hard feelings, I'm zipping my lip & getting outta here.))

[jeannern]

If you want ghetto, try Brookfield at Silver Creek in Puyallup.

[stingray427]

IS THAT RIGHT?


YouTube - War - The World Is A Ghetto (Long Version)

[Lordwilluswest]

Hello,
What is the differences between northest WA and Northern ID. We are looking Deer Park/Ketlle Falls areas of WA, and CDA northward. Property with acreage is much cheaper up around Kettle Falls area. I realize there is less population there. I am a phyical Therapist so finding work should be OK. I have a 12 y/o and a wife. Both want to move from here in Sumter SC. I need info on schools, any private schools?, which places are cheaper tax wise, we don't want a ton of wind, snow is OK. We are coming in June to make some decisions on a top 5 list. We are looking for 10+ acres for under 250K. This is possible in NE WA and much harder in Northern ID. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[StealthRabbit]

I would look to climate maps, and interview the tax assessors and residents (Read the local papers for a feel) Colville vs. Sandpoint (much larger / developed).

I have friends in IONE and they mentioned they should have chose Kettle Falls or Colville (much less snow / fog in the west side of the range).

Very nice areas, can be a bit 'closed' culturally, and significant Meth issues.

I have friends in Sandpoint (~10 miles NE) and at Clark Fork, ID. They each really like it, as do friends just across the border in western MT. All left WA and feel much better about their new states (less Politics and regulations, much easier to afford to be a business owner and employer)

[stingray427]

I have heard that Washington state has become too liberal like California so alot of people are leaving Washington state because of the very bad property tax situation there and moving to Idaho and other places.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Lordwilluswest

Hello,
What is the differences between northest WA and Northern ID. We are looking Deer Park/Ketlle Falls areas of WA, and CDA northward. Property with acreage is much cheaper up around Kettle Falls area. I realize there is less population there. I am a phyical Therapist so finding work should be OK. I have a 12 y/o and a wife. Both want to move from here in Sumter SC. I need info on schools, any private schools?, which places are cheaper tax wise, we don't want a ton of wind, snow is OK. We are coming in June to make some decisions on a top 5 list. We are looking for 10+ acres for under 250K. This is possible in NE WA and much harder in Northern ID. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You can try up north of Washington by the Vancouver Border

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by stingray427

I have heard that Washington state has become too liberal like California so alot of people are leaving Washington state because of the very bad property tax situation there and moving to Idaho and other places.

I always thought of Washington being the liberal one, and California being the slightly conservative one - that is where Reagan is from - California.