Living in or around Everett, WA. (Seattle, Bellevue: apartment, crime, hotel)

[dawyz]

I am relocating to the Washington state due to a job promotion. My job is going to be located in Everett, WA. I have never been to the state and would like some opinions on the Everett area. If Everett is not a good area to live in, I would appreciate some ideas of town of where I can live where the commute is not that bad. I don't mind driving up to at least 45 mins if that means living in a decent community. Any Help would be appreciated. Thanks

[UnusualSuspect]

What kind of community are you looking for? You've got plenty of options. You shouldn't have any trouble keeping your commute short.

As for Everett, it's fine. Seattleites seem to look down on it, but don't listen to them. As with any city, there are good neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods. I used to live near Silver Lake (the southeast corner of Everett, near Mill Creek), and I loved it. As for neighborhoods to avoid, I never felt unsafe in any part of Everett, but there are parts of south Everett that aren't so great (I was told to avoid the Casino Road area when I was looking for an apartment).

There are also plenty of other places nearby: Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Snohomish, Marysville, Lynnwood, parts of unincorporated Snohomish County, other nearby suburbs. You could find nice places to live in any of those areas.

[Ira500]

I find Mukilteo to be particularly charming and pretty.
Within Everett, North Everett, Rucker Hill, and Boulevard Bluffs all have their own distinct charm.
Like Unusual Suspect said, Everett is one of those places put down by people, but mostly by those who've never been there. It's mostly pretty nice.

[eskercurve]

To be within 45 minutes you have tons of options. To give you an idea, I live on Mercer Island and it takes me about 45 minutes to commute from there to the Boeing plant in everett. So, basically, you're not really limiting yourself especially since you'll be commuting against traffic.

You can live anywhere within Bellevue, the majority of Seattle and north.

Since your range is so all-encompassing, you really do have to tell us what you're looking to experience. Artsy, hip neighborhoods with higher density? Quiet residential suburb? Are good schools a must-have? We got it all here, so you really have to be more specific.

In terms of just general "nice" ... Kirkland is nice, but more residential. So is Bothell around there.

Bellevue is a very diverse city, and you can live in the core or closeby pretty easily. It has lots of shopping and things to do.

The north side of Seattle has Greenlake, Northgate, Wallingford, Ballard, and Fremont which are the nicer areas. Greenlake has awesome views and a cool park that is huge, and is a nice neighborhood. Northgate is diverse and has shopping and is quieter. Wallingford is not too active but not a slouch either and it has 45th st. which is awesome. The awesomeness continues to Ballard. Fremont is very hip / artsy and expensive, and kinda busy, not excessively so. North of Greenlake is Greenwood and that's an up and coming area.

North of Seattle you have Shoreline, Edmonds, etc. Most of those areas are nice, but avoid Aurora Ave. north of around 85th st. Go in a few blocks and you'll be fine, but just don't live on the Ave. It's known for prostitution and drugs, but that's changing. Edmonds is pretty quiet, and SHoreline is a mixed bag.

Around Everett, near the Boeing plant is nice and Mukilteo is as Ira said, charming. It's a bit strip-mall suburbia for me, but it is a nice place.


NORTH of everett is also nice in places, cheap, but also less to do and more like typical suburbia. Similar story out east.

[dawyz]

Thanks to all that replied. I will take a look at all those areas, when I head out there in 2 weeks. I am going to stay in a hotel in Everett until I can get a feel of the place. I am looking for an area that has a lot of shopping, whole foods, activities, but also where i can have peace and quiet, without worry of crime, drugs, etc. I know that is going to be anywhere you go, but would like to limit my contact with those areas. I would also like to be around public transportation. Coming from the east coast and having the ability to jump onto the train or bus is always a plus.

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by dawyz

Thanks to all that replied. I will take a look at all those areas, when I head out there in 2 weeks. I am going to stay in a hotel in Everett until I can get a feel of the place. I am looking for an area that has a lot of shopping, whole foods, activities, but also where i can have peace and quiet, without worry of crime, drugs, etc. I know that is going to be anywhere you go, but would like to limit my contact with those areas. I would also like to be around public transportation. Coming from the east coast and having the ability to jump onto the train or bus is always a plus.

Northgate should suit you if you want lots of shopping. Northgate mall is right there

If you live there you can shop there, or the University Village mall which is on 45th st. to the east of UW, north of Husky Stadium. You can easily get to other points in the city via bus if you live in Northgate or the other neighborhoods I stated. I you wanna be RIGHT at the places, live near Market St. in Ballard or 45th st. in Wallingford or a little south of 45th in Fremont. Do not live in the U district, as it's dirtier, noisier, filled with college kids and bums, there's shootings occassionally, and whatnot. You can also go downtown to Seattle.

If you live in Bellevue you can take a bus from most places in the city to the Bellevue transit station. From there you can go downtown to Seattle to do shopping. Or you can stay right there in Bellevue. Lots of options.


The rub here is you will be working in Everett, and the Everett bus lines are well maintained but not as extensive. The wider Puget Sound metro bus lines typically have limited options going from south to north, but they do exist. Long story short I think it would be easier if you had a car. However, something I found very nice is vanpooling for commuting. Coming from the East Coast, I think you'd like the city of Seattle better, IMHO, to live, but to commute you'd likely have to drive or find a vanpool. The vanpooling here is best in the nation and has tons of nice people in them, don't fret about that or the "social view" of it ... people here are mellow.

[dawyz]

Eskercurve,

I do own a car but its not going to be delivered to WA until about the first week in February. I appreciate your advise as a Bostonian, i think i would rather the more of city feel for living. I will look into Bellevue, as i just did a search of the area and i really like. Your help has been very valuable, Thank You!

[chucksr65]

I wish best on your new job. you must have luck to find here in Washington. I lost my job in fall 2008 and still looking. going to school. right now. I live 29 years here I,m burn out. I am looking out state now. Everett is a good area. things are thing to do. Jetty Island is neat to go to in Summer.your not to far from Seattle or Bellevue. if you live in Bellevue I will feel sorry for. you. I used work there and live in Redmond I will never go back there. I can,t stand them.Good Luck

[johnnyb1990]

Everett has very beautiful areas and I think it truly has spots that are worth living in. But there definitely is an underbelly to Everett itself. There is significantly more crime in Everett than most of Washington but it is designated to only a couple of different spots. Casino Road in particular, Broadway...Parts of South Everett are bad. If you ask me, the whole Everett mall area is sour. But mainly Casino Road, if you park your car anywhere near there at night and have anything of value in it, don't expect it to be there when you get back.

I love Everett, it feels like there is a lot of history there and the city itself has a lot of character. Yes, it seems more reasonable to live in Mukilteo or Mill Creek but if you give Everett a chance I think you might end up really enjoying it.

[fritz59]

Just received an offer for a job with Boeing in Everett. 51 year old who runs with the dog, likes listening to live music and eating healthy. Looking for advice on where specific places to look for an apt where these activities are near. Would prefer a short commute. Any help is appreciated