NICE small-med towns in WA? (Tacoma, Vancouver: 2009, low crime, Home Depot)

[aggie-o]

We are trying to find out what suburban or even slightly rural-ish areas of approx. 25,000-60,000 exist anywhere in WA. We're ok with the rain, we want trees and greenery and milder summers, don't mind some snow. Our biggest criteria are very low crime, great schools and an upscale look and feel (cute shops/cute down town area) and close access to decent everyday shopping (Target, Costco, Trader Joe's or similar). Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

[mthomson]

You just described Gig Harbor! It's a bit smaller than that, but beautiful trees, amazing summers, a great historic downtown, Target and Costco right across the street from each other, and Harbor Greens (which is our local Trader Joes'). Take a look at these photos!

[allforcats]

Have you started your search by using the data pages of City-Data.com? Click on the upper left corner of any page here, click on Washington, and you'll be able to collect many, many towns of your target pop size, and if you click on those towns' names you'll get a long, wondrously-detailed statistics page which includes crime, income, weather, etc.

If you also check GreatSchools.org you can coordinate your info.

[catlemm]

We live in Battle Ground Washington. It's close to Vancouver so all you need is nearby. It has a "country" feel and is really pretty. Nice people, nice weather. Check it out.

[Sandy Nelson]

I'll champion Olympia. It has been rated the safest mid size city in the US the past two years in a row by Sterling's Best Places. It has 44,000 inhabitants, excellent schools, a quaint downtown, yet all the big box stores like like Costco, World Market, Home Depot, etc... Trader Joes is rumored to come to Olympia in 2009.

Best of Luck!

Sandy

[aggie-o]

Originally Posted by mthomson

You just described Gig Harbor! It's a bit smaller than that, but beautiful trees, amazing summers, a great historic downtown, Target and Costco right across the street from each other, and Harbor Greens (which is our local Trader Joes'). Take a look at these photos!

I admit I had to check for myself to see if there really was Target and Costco after learning the town is only around 7,000! I am so suprised! It does sound do-able, my only "issue" with real small towns is lack of shopping and po-dunkville type atmosphere which is does not appear would be the case here!

What about the nearest state college? I've tried to figure this out online and it's apparently not easy to get this info. We are going to be in a very odd place of having a college kid and another starting Kindergarten! Would want to be around other families with younger kids but hoping we're not going to be the very oldest parents of such groups!

[Jake840]

The actual city of Gig Harbor may only be 7,000 but the area that most consider Gig Harbor I believe has a bit more people.

The nearest state college is going to be the Univeristy of Washington - Tacoma , 8 miles from the Narrows Bridge in Downtown Tacoma. There is also a branch of the Evergreen State College in Downtown Tacoma.

[mthomson]

In addition to UW Tacoma, there is a Community College in Gig Harbor and another a few miles north. Jake is right, Gig Harbor proper is very small, but folks with a Gig Harbor address (but technically unincorporated Pierce County) is closer to 20K as a rough guess.

[StealthRabbit]

cashmere / wenatchee

[nwcountrygal]

Look into Oympia and outsiding area ---- Boston Harbor is do die for and out landing areas are so country but less than 10 miles from Cabeles Costco Homedepot etc,,,,,,,,,,,