North Seattle (Downtown to Everett) For Families (Shoreline, Edmonds: best neighborhood, to rent)

[lemArts]

We are living in the South but we used to live in Seattle and we really want to come back. My old company in Everett has made me an offer to return to my old job.

We've been gone for five years. Previously we were dual income no kids and just rented in lower Queen Anne (Roy Street) and LOVED it. We are definitely not suburbs people.

However, we now have two boys (ages 2 and 4), so we have some things to consider that we didn't when we lived in Seattle previously. We obviously are very concerned about public schools (our oldest will start K next fall). We'd like to rent a house with at least 3 bedrooms and some type of yard. I'd like a shorter commute (than lower Queen Anne to Everett which I was doing back in the day). All of that said, we'd still like to be as close to the city as possible.

I know that the further north we go the cheaper it will be but we really would prefer not to live up in Lynnwood or Everett. Whatever we choose will be a balancing act between schools, finances, and proximity to the city. Suggestions?

[Ira500]

1. Edmonds- it's not Queen Anne, but it has charm, views, a walkable downtown, and good schools.

2. Bothell- An old downtown with vitality, good schools, and good walking opportunities.

3. Broadview- The Northwest boundary of the City of Seattle, it has a very good elementary school, and a small but nice retail area with a good Italian restaurant.

[Inkpoe]

Shoreline has a good school district, and is closer to DT Seattle, but still reasonable to Everett. It also been labeled "Best Neighborhood" or "Best place to live" a couple times as well by Seattle Magazine and some other sources (one ranked it #64 out of 100 best in America).

[CarlB328]

Wallingford? It's a little farther north than Queen Anne and right off of I-5.