Relocating ?s (Seattle, Everett, Kent: neighborhood, school district, to live in)

[ladystrac]

We'll be relocating to the Seattle area this spring. We have 5 kids ages 12-3mo, dogs and the whole nine yards. I'm mainly a SAHM, but would like to work per diem at a local hospital(RN), and husband would be working downtown. We're looking for a mostly rural/suburban area that will give us the room we desire, without killing the hubby on the commute. Any suggestions on where to start looking? Thanks!

[Inkpoe]

Of course it depends on your budget, desired commute time and as to whether the hospitals are hiring, but you have a couple.

To the East, look into the Swedish Hospital campus in Issaquah, and Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. Your suburban choices are Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland (Totem Lake area).

To the South, look to Multicare in Auburn, Samaritan in Puyallup, Valley Medical in Renton.

I know in the north they have Stevens Hospital in Edmonds, but I can't really remember any else -- so will leave that up to someone else.



The Hospitals here also tend to have smaller clinics/offices/campuses around in the suburban areas as well.

[ladystrac]

We're looking around the $350-400k budget range, and I don't HAVE to work, I just enjoy it. We're just used to having chickens, a garden and space for the kids to get out and play, so looking for something similar and not sure where to start. My husband is willing to commute about 30-40 mins, as that's a similar commute to what he has now.

[texastrigirl]

You could look at the Maple Valley area though it's a bit more than 30-40 minutes but fits everything else. Would be closer to Swedish Issaquah which is a new, state of the art hospital.

[ladystrac]

Thanks!

[Ira500]

I'd also recommend the area around Maple Valley, including Renton addresses bordering Maple Valley, and Covington. All in the neighborhood of 35-40 minutes from downtown Seattle if traffic is light. Covington's in the Kent school district, which, while not as good as Maple Valley's, has some good schools including the ones near and in Covington. The outer reaches of Renton will be mostly in the Issaquah school district, with some in the Maple Valley(Tahoma) or Kent districts. And again the schools in Renton that are part of the Kent school district are better than most of Kent's schools within Kent.

[RVD90277]

I'd recommend Sammamish, Woodinville, Fall City, and Renton. All are a little far from the city but you would get a lot more for your money and large family in those areas.

[analogkid84]

Look up in the Snohomish County areas around Marysville, Arlington, Snohomish. Nearby large-ish city, Everett, has hospital(s), and various medical clinics (Everett Clinic being the largest) around the area. Would be a stretch on the commute end of things, but depending on the times, it may not be an issue. I used to live in Marysville, started work at 6 a.m. and got off (most days) between 3-3:30 p.m. in Seattle Interbay area. Commute was a breeze as we were on the roads before the bulk of the commute got started. Nice rural areas up there with some small farms still around and most municipalities allow keeping chickens.

[shaylahc]

I'd look at Woodinville. That is where we are, and we love it.

[BellevueNative]

As someone who drives in from the north end (Mill Creek) I would not go any further north than Snohomish or Everett. For me on most days it's 1 hour to Seattle, commuting at normal times. Evenings are much better for some reason.

In addition to some of the other areas people have mentioned, I think you should look at Duvall. Wouldn't be 30 minutes (I think you'll have a hard time finding 30 minutes in your budget and with other things you're looking for), but I think 45 mins might be a possibility if your husband gets into the city via 520.