Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale, Bellingham or Lynden? (Seattle, Vancouver: low crime, theater)

[jennywren123]

We need to move to NW Washington this summer for my husband's job in Vancouver, BC. Since we're American we'd like to live in Washington and get him a Nexus pass for the commute. We've got kids who'll be in elementary school so quality of school is important, along with low crime...Birch Bay, Semiahmoo and Sudden Valley look nice, but I wonder if they're more vacation areas that full-time resident communities. Any honest opinions on the quality of these school districts would be most welcome. As for liberal/conservative, we lean to the left but we get along with everybody, regardless of political stripes (growing up in a conservative town will do that for you). Thanks!

[allforcats]

Hi. There's quite a lot of info (many threads) in the WA forum here about the locations you mention, especially if you click Search for Bellingham.

Bellingham school district is considered one of the top half-dozen school districts in the state, according to City-Data respondents. You can Google for the school district. You might also want to look up specific schools at GreatSchools.org.

Lynden would not be my first choice. It's a border town and rather lackluster, and there's not a lot of "there" there. Bellingham is a college town and as such has good book stores, theater, cafes, and an uplifting, energetic vibe. Birch Bay isn't a "vacaton" town but it seems to be becoming a retirement town, but maybe I'm wrong about that observation.
My thoughts would be like yours: where can I get the best schools and the most interesting and varied stimulation for my children, along with the most safety? I'd choose B'ham.

Hope this helps!

[jennywren123]

Sure does, thanks!

[Debee]

I would tell you the opposite,Lynden would be my first choice if your raising a family. JMHO of coarse.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Debee

I would tell you the opposite,Lynden would be my first choice if your raising a family. JMHO of coarse.

me too.... being of the same opinion (real rare here on the left coast)

I had friends who moved across the state to have their kids go to Lynden schools, BUT... That certainly is not the usual response, and these folks moved back to 'dumbsville', / 'methville' WA after kids graduated.

There are pluses of each, B'ham included. You may have to come scope them out.

[Goosie]

Even with a Nexus card, the commute across the border can be very long in the summer. He is going to have a long commute from any of those places.

Birch Bay and Semiahmoo would go to Blaine Schools, which are pretty good, but Blaine is a very small town. Sudden Valley kids are bussed to the nearest Bellingham school, which is Geneva. It's supposed to be a good school, but overcrowded.

Originally Posted by jennywren123

We need to move to NW Washington this summer for my husband's job in Vancouver, BC. Since we're American we'd like to live in Washington and get him a Nexus pass for the commute. We've got kids who'll be in elementary school so quality of school is important, along with low crime...Birch Bay, Semiahmoo and Sudden Valley look nice, but I wonder if they're more vacation areas that full-time resident communities. Any honest opinions on the quality of these school districts would be most welcome. As for liberal/conservative, we lean to the left but we get along with everybody, regardless of political stripes (growing up in a conservative town will do that for you). Thanks!

[yukiko11]

For living, I would recommend Bellingham, however that is still a long drive for your husband. Probably at least and hour each way. On the otherhand it is affordable as is Lynden. There is a boarder crossing at Lynden, but if your husband is not working in that area, it is kind of a long drive back to Vancouver from there.
My suggestion is, do your homework, and make a trip out to WA to find the best place for your family.

[SemiahmooDude]

Lynden is a nice conservative farming community with solid schools and excellent athletic programs.

Blaine is less conservative, with perhaps just a bit more diversity, but maintains a great small coastal town feel. Schools are solid as well - great music program.

Either example you have Bellingham for your larger city needs just a short 20 minute drive away - and I-5 in that area is rarely overly busy - though the onramps into Bellingham can be busy at certain times of the day but nothing like South I-5/405.

All in all, these areas of Whatcom County are fantastic places to raise a family and enjoy some of the great natural surroundings. Mount Baker in the back yard and the beautiful San Juan/ Gulf Islands in your front yard - to say nothing of Vancouver being less than an hour away, a fantastic big city that I find superior to Seattle in every way...

[angelagardner]

Blaine is a small town but cute and right on the border for your husbands drive. They have good schools, most of the people I know who have children that attend the Blaine school district are satisfied. That being said it is still at least a 25-30 minute drive to "town" which is Bellingham. Ferndale is similar to Blaine but a tad bit larger and a lot closer to Bellingham but will add about 15 minutes onto your husbands drive time to the border--schools in Ferndale are decent and the town is nice, plus it's only a 10 minute drive to Bellingham. Both Ferndale and Blaine have easy I-5 access making it nice to get to Vancouver or Bellingham. Birch Bay is a cute town but doesn't have much "in" town so you drive about 15 minutes to get to anything like grocery stores and the freeway. Lynden is a love it or hate it town for the most part--it's really pretty but very conservative and the drive to Bellingham isn't fun since it's not freeway time.