What are the best places to live near Yakima Washington even if I have to commute 30-45 min? (Seattle: crime, homes)

[lisadrfam1]

I am considering moving near Yakima and I have heard some good and bad things about Yakima WA. Good- nice place to live(scenery). Bad- so much gang violence. Can someone please help me or suggest some good cities to live near Yakima, I would like a good school district, I have three small children. I heard better things about Ellensburg...Please help me....Thank you
I know nothing about this area and have never been to Washington...plan on visiting there but need to know about it from people who know first hand...
Thanks....

[bobbilly79]

I recently moved back to Ellensburg after a two year absence. I lived here for three years previously. Great school district, although the middle school could use some updating and different administration, but that is just one persons opinion. Lots of family friendly activities, just 30 minutes from Yakima, less than two hours from Seattle, close to the Columbia River. I could go on and on. It isn't perfect, but it's not too bad at all, and it's a whole lot better than living in Yakima

[j_k_k]

E-burg is a nice place, college town, pretty valley. As for towns around Yak, I hear decent things about Selah. Prosser's a nice town, lot of civic spirit. Just remember the letters ABM:

Anywhere But Mabton.

[509er]

Selah or Naches. Naches is a small town, the gateway to White and Chinook Passes, 12 minutes from Yakima. No graffiti. Friendly neighbors. It has a bit of a mountain town feel. The school dist is 1A. I work in Naches part-time.

Selah is a 2A district, 5 minutes from south selah to north yakima. It has some graffiti on the outskirts of town, I believe due to the same type of element that uses the skateboard park. Not a lot of crime in either town. Both have good schools.
I would recommend Ellensburg to you, but you have to be a hard-core wind-lover to make it there.

As far as gang violence goes, as long as you stay out of Toppenish, Grandview, Sunnyside, and East-Central Yakima after dark, you probably won't ever run across it.

[restam]

I loved Ellensburg. I went to school there and wanted to stay. Even thought about moving back.

However, when winter comes, be careful of the driving between E-burg and Yakima. You have to go through either what is known as the "canyon". (Scenic but could be treacherous in bad weather) or up over the Manastash and Umatilla range with the wide open rangeland that would have nothing to stop the blowing snow.

I had a cousin that lived in Prosser...was really happy there. Selah is also a nice area. Yakima itself has some nice spots to it, just need to find the right ones

[j_k_k]

Plus, on the ridges between Yak and E-burg, there is a sort of vortex that attracts all of the world's worst drivers. The locals know what to do, but the truckers don't care--one truck going 45 (in a 70) will gladly hog the passing lane going uphill to pass another truck going 42. RVs climbing the hills slow down to geologic time. While it's surprising how often the ridges are bare and dry in winter, they can be very dangerous when it's windy and snowy. You really, really would just absolutely not enjoy going into a skid headed down a 5% slope (I think at least one of the ridges exceeds this, could be more).

[NCWmark]

To the north of Yakima I would suggest: Naches and Ellensburg

To the south of Yakima, I would suggest: Prosser.

I am not the biggest fan of Yakima, but there are decent areas. My sister taught for a number of years in the East Valley school district and had nothing but positive things to say about her experience there. I have heard similar things about the West Valley area as well.

[M3 Mitch]

Prosser is a full 45 minute drive to Yakima, IMHO you don't have to go that far. The north-east part of Yakima is really pretty upscale, from what I have heard, you are better off living outside the city limits. You can definitely find country homes in this part of the state, if you are into that.

I think you are implying that you have a job lined up in Yakima, but you don't say that outright. Are you going to be working in Yakima?

[lisadrfam1]

Thank you very much to all the nice people who responded to my post. My husband will be working in wapato I figured it was close enough to Yakima. We will be visiting Wapato area sometime next week. I heard that Wapato is not a safe place to live. Moving from Tucson Az. There are good and bad in all towns, gangs,drugs,violence. I don't wan't my kids to get caught up in all of that. We are very fortunate to have a grat school district in our town. What about Kittitas? sorry about the spelling. Thanks again!

[70Ford]

I have a buddy that retired to Ellensburg. He loves it.