Best areas for young family? Tacoma?...suggestions needed! (Seattle, Everett: low income, section 8)

[MittenDweller82]

Hello all...

Sorry to add another post regarding relocation but I didn't see most of the answers I needed regarding my situation. My family is looking either at Portland or Tacoma, I know there is a big difference although I think my degree and skills would be more useful in the Seattle area? I have a degree in Marketing and have experience in IT and customer service, my wife works in the hospitality industry. I suppose the biggest question is....would anyone chance moving without employment lined up with my qualifications? Just how competitive is the market currently in the Seattle area? Its almost 16% in Michigan where I am from and expected to go to 20%.

I know Seattle has an above average cost of living, but how does it compare to Chicago? I'm not looking to live in Redmond or a very expensive area, I would like to keep a rent of around 800/mo or home price around 200K. Currently in Chicago I am paying 1500 for a 2bdr. We are orig. from Ann Arbor, MI which is nice..but there are thousands of grad students butting heads for non-existent employment. In general, is the Tacoma area a family friendly (we are late 20's) and does it have a good public trans system that connects to many points in Seattle? I'm a huge hiking and biking buff and its killing me not to have natural surroundings in Chicago.

I know this would be a big move for my family, although I honestly see the west doing much better than the midwest economically in the years to come which is one of the biggest reasons for my wanting to get OUT of the midwest...it is VERY stagnant, and full of people who have given up on life. Just some general thoughts on my situation and perhaps if anyone has had experience being unemployed there and their thoughts on job searching.

I apologize for the long post....thanks to anyone that has some info.

Kevin

[CariWike]

I grew up in Tacoma and I hate it, but I'm probably biased.

It has a lot of diversity, which I do like. So many cultures! The crime rate isnt very good though, at least in any area where you'd be getting a $800 a month rent payment. North Tacoma is pretty nice, UP is nice, beyond that most of anything IN Tacoma isnt a great area. Outside of Tacoma is a different story though...Lakewood has some nice areas, not so sure about the others, since I havent lived there.

If you head up north, finding a rent of $800 a month will be more difficult, unless you go way up to Everett, which doesnt have the greatest areas either (although I'd live in downtown Everett over downtown Tacoma ANY DAY). I live in Bothell and I think theres a few apartments with rent around 800, or even less-but finding a house in that price range would be difficult.

Ironically we're moving to SC to get away from the high cost of living here (plus my fiance's family is there).

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by CariWike

I grew up in Tacoma and I hate it, but I'm probably biased.

It has a lot of diversity, which I do like. So many cultures! The crime rate isnt very good though, at least in any area where you'd be getting a $800 a month rent payment. North Tacoma is pretty nice, UP is nice, beyond that most of anything IN Tacoma isnt a great area. Outside of Tacoma is a different story though...Lakewood has some nice areas, not so sure about the others, since I havent lived there.

If you head up north, finding a rent of $800 a month will be more difficult, unless you go way up to Everett, which doesnt have the greatest areas either (although I'd live in downtown Everett over downtown Tacoma ANY DAY). I live in Bothell and I think theres a few apartments with rent around 800, or even less-but finding a house in that price range would be difficult.

Ironically we're moving to SC to get away from the high cost of living here (plus my fiance's family is there).

Thanks for the information, the crime rate didn't look that bad for Tacoma, is it simply just the normal crimes for a larger city or do you think there is a problem with crime? I haven't looked much north of there, although I will be coming to the area in a week so I will look at more areas. I don't expect to find a house for 800, a nice 2bdr apt will suffice until I can find a house. Did your fiance find work in SC or is it simply because of your family?

I can understand hating where you grew up, as many people do, but coming from the Midwest I'm not really afraid of any economic climate...anywhere is better than a lot of spots around here.


Thanks for the info!

[yukiko11]

I live in snohomish county which is basically Everett and north.
It is great here because crime is low, recreation is unbeatable, but jobs at the moment are not spectacular unless you want to work for Boeing. There are tons of minimum wage jobs as a lot of building has been going on with shopping centers and Casinos.
You can get a 2 bd apt for 800, but it will be section 8 and you have to prove low income. $200,000 for a home is not happening.
A decent apartment is going to cost you $1000+ and a house will cost you about 250K+. A rental house will be in the 12-1500 range.
Most IT jobs are on the east side of Seattle and the rents and other prices are even higher.
Portland is not much lower as far as the housing market goes, but the job market is even worse.

[nfdsouza2001]

I live in Kent/Covington. If your are avid biker/and outdoors enthusiast. This is a good area to consider you are about 45 minutes to an hour to downtown. Housing is relatively inexpensive you should get a decent place for about your budget. I lived in Downers Grove and paid about $800 for an apartment on 56 & Walnut. As for the job market things are happening. When do you plan to move out here? I have seen housing for under $200 K, even less if your are willing to put some sweat equity to it. Hope this info helps.

[Jake840]

Check out North Tacoma, West Tacoma, and Northeast Tacoma. It might be hard to find a decent 2 bed for $800 in those parts of town but I am sure it can be done. As for crime Tacoma does have some higher crime areas but its not really any different than any other larger city. Since you are younger I would suggest looking in and around Downtown Tacoma. It has low crime, very clean, great mix of restaurants, some great bars/lounges, museums, light rails, an indie cinema, 3 performing arts theaters, farmers market, waterfront, etc.

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by Jake840

Check out North Tacoma, West Tacoma, and Northeast Tacoma. It might be hard to find a decent 2 bed for $800 in those parts of town but I am sure it can be done. As for crime Tacoma does have some higher crime areas but its not really any different than any other larger city. Since you are younger I would suggest looking in and around Downtown Tacoma. It has low crime, very clean, great mix of restaurants, some great bars/lounges, museums, light rails, an indie cinema, 3 performing arts theaters, farmers market, waterfront, etc.

Thanks for the info I will be doing a tour of Tacoma when I come to the area in a couple weeks. After researching I can't understand why some on the the threads bash Tacoma as a bad place to stay? It has everything my family needs and the scenery to boot....what more could you want?

[nfdsouza2001]

Sorry about my first post. I understand you are in IT and your wife is in the hospiatality industry. Tacoma Power is one of the larger IT employers in the area. You may also want to consider the healthcare IT field with the move towards Electronic records Multicare recently acquired Good Samaritan Hospital, the Franciscan Medical group just built a new hospital in Gig Harbor as also Harrison in Port orchard. All these hospitals are high on electronic records. I will check around for options for your wife and will post later.

Nelton

[Ira500]

After researching I can't understand why some on the the threads bash Tacoma as a bad place to stay? It has everything my family needs and the scenery to boot....what more could you want?


Some Seattle folks in particular need to have a place to put down, so they've decided that Tacoma, and everything south of the ship canal in Seattle is scary and dangerous, but it's not exactly based in reality.
There are some not so nice parts of Tacoma. The place has become a lot nicer in the last ten or fifteen years, so there are less not so nice parts, but they still exist.
But at the same time Tacoma has some absolutely awesome, safe, beautiful, cool neighborhoods.
A few include Proctor, Old Town, the Stadium District, Ruston/Point Defiance, some of the Hilltop, some of downtown, the Narrows/Titlow Beach neighborhood, and the North Slope Historic district.