Lynnwood and unincorporated Snohomish County area (Bellevue, Redmond: middle-class, rental, high crime)

[enemytrain]

My family and I recently moved from out of state so that my husband could attend law school. We knew we wanted to live in Snohomish County and we have found a nice rental home in Lynnwood (technically it's in the unincorporated Snohomish County area). Since moving here, I've noticed that some people act like this area is less than desirable. I've also seen Lynnwood get hit for being considered working class, having a high crime rate, and being full of chain stores. I know Lynnwood doesn't look quaint like some of the nearby towns but I'm not really understanding why it gets criticized so much. My neighborhood and the ones nearby are full of big, new homes. The lawns are manicured and the streets are clean. It really seems like a typical suburban neighborhood to me. In fact, there are mirror images of my neighborhood in many of the more desirable towns nearby.

Moving here was stressful for my kids and so far they seem to like their new schools. I know we'll be buying a home within the next year or two and I hate thinking about having them start over again in new schools. Did we choose the wrong area to move to? Would it be worth it to move to a new area once our lease is up? Maybe I'm worrying too much about what other people think? I haven't really met anyone in Lynnwood, so I haven't formed much of an opinion about the people. We spend our free time in the city, so I don't feel like I'm missing out culture, food and art. I guess I just want some opinions on the area from people that live/lived in the Snohomish area and why they feel the way they do?

[pw72]

Lynnwood gets a somewhat bad rep because it is NOT Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, (the typical higher-end suburbs). But there is nothing inherently wrong with Lynnwood. It is indeed middle-class, but you will find perfectly fine neighborhoods within the city. And its location, at the junction of the 5 and 405 is perfectly suited for future growth.

On a related note, there have been efforts to remake the downtown into a "real" business center, complete with high-rise office and in-city residential. The recession has delayed this, but if current business and political leaders have the will, this will likely happen in the next decade. I have nothing but respect and a hopeful expectation that this area will boom in the next generation. Hang in there!

[Ira500]

Don't worry about what other people think. Lynnwood is a mixed bag. There are some great parts and some not so great parts...Lynnwood is in the Edmonds school district, and that's considered quite good.
If you like where you're living and you feel safe and the schools seem good, you have no reason to seek a new area. Who cares what other people think?
Why Lynnwood gets criticized is because people think that Lynnwood means Aurora Avenue or that heavily trafficked area around 196th? and 44th? Lynnwood's a diverse place. There's traffic and chain stores,nice parks ,and neighborhoods with nice large homes.

[dubfan]

To echo the earlier posters, if you don't mind it, why leave? Lynnwood may not have the cachet of Bellevue, but is there really a big objective difference between them? Almost every city in the Puget Sound area has its rough spots, the only exceptions being the exclusive super-rich enclaves on Lake Washington. Just don't do what my parents did and "experiment" with different places until you find the right one (after your kid has already been to 10 different schools).

[enemytrain]

I appreciate your responses and I think you're correct about not worrying what others think. I feel better about Lynnwood now. Everything is still so new to me and I haven't had time to form my own opinion. I guess I let the things I read get to me. I do like that the commute isn't bad, the high school is super nice and there's a Trader Joe's!

[pw72]

Lynnwood is perfectly positioned to become a major business center, equal to Bellevue, mainly due to the confluence of the 405 and 5 freeways. There needs to be leadership among business and political leaders to make this happen. The potential revenue to the city is obvious, and if it doesn't happen in the next decade, it will be perceived as a complete failure. Who will step up?