Living in Lynnwood commuting to Northgate vs. living in Auburn commuting to Tukwila (Seattle: appointed, rentals)

[Michellewheatley]

My husband and I are traveling to the area this week and there are several opportunities we will be considering. We are both fairly unfamiliar with the area although my husband has been out there on business several times. I have looked into both locations and the housing and commute are comparable. We have 4 young children, our family is active and we would like to be near parks and activities. Any insight into the pros and cons of both areas would be greatly appreciated.

[mkarch]

Have you checked out the schools in Auburn?

[Michellewheatley]

I am actually planning on homeschooling for now. My school aged children are at a public charter Montessori where we are now but have never been to a traditional public school. Are the schools bad though?

Originally Posted by mkarch

Have you checked out the schools in Auburn?

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Michellewheatley

I am actually planning on homeschooling for now. My school aged children are at a public charter Montessori where we are now but have never been to a traditional public school. Are the schools bad though?

Generally yes. Lynnwood is spotty but there are some better rated ones mixed in there. I've known more people that were truly disappointed with the learning environment down in the Auburn area. In general, the rule of thumb is people pay a premium for homes with good schools. It's just one of the reasons houses in Auburn cost 1/3 what they do in other areas.

[Michellewheatley]

I only started looking in Lynnwood because I actually found rentals in our rice range that were not run down.... Is 1900-2000 realistic for a 4 bedroom or is that probably a scam I came across?

Originally Posted by mkarch

Generally yes. Lynnwood is spotty but there are some better rated ones mixed in there. I've known more people that were truly disappointed with the learning environment down in the Auburn area. In general, the rule of thumb is people pay a premium for homes with good schools. It's just one of the reasons houses in Auburn cost 1/3 what they do in other areas.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Michellewheatley

I only started looking in Lynnwood because I actually found rentals in our rice range that were not run down.... Is 1900-2000 realistic for a 4 bedroom or is that probably a scam I came across?

Yes, that's about right for Lynnwood, there are higher priced areas but the closer you are to the mall the lower the rent, there are similar homes as low as $1,700. The better the schools the higher the rent, so for you that's not an issue and you can do well. I would do the northern choice, I would prefer working in Northgate over Tukwila. Auburn and Lynnwood are different but of the two I'd go with Lynnwood as long as it's a good part. Besides the mall area, avoid renting withing 4-6 blocks of Highway 99/Pacific Highway.

[Michellewheatley]

Thanks for the advice, I will relay the info to my husband so he can consider that when weighing the options.

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Yes, that's about right for Lynnwood, there are higher priced areas but the closer you are to the mall the lower the rent, there are similar homes as low as $1,700. The better the schools the higher the rent, so for you that's not an issue and you can do well. I would do the northern choice, I would prefer working in Northgate over Tukwila. Auburn and Lynnwood are different but of the two I'd go with Lynnwood as long as it's a good part. Besides the mall area, avoid renting withing 4-6 blocks of Highway 99/Pacific Highway.

[Ira500]

Auburn's probably a little less expensive to rent a place, and the schools aren't significantly worse than Lynnwood's. You might want to look at Mountlake Terrace as well, should be as cheap or cheaper than Lynnwood, but a little less traffic, a little quieter. Is there a specific reason Lynnwood and Auburn made it, but not Mountlake Terrace or Renton?

[Michellewheatley]

We honestly know very little about the area. One of my husbands coworkers just bought a house in Auburn so that is how that made the list and searching through rental listings I stumbled upon the Lynnwood area. I did see one or two in Renton but hadn't heard of Mountlake Terrace. I would like to be in a quiet family oriented area. My husband works long hours and it would be nice to be near a park.

Originally Posted by Ira500

Auburn's probably a little less expensive to rent a place, and the schools aren't significantly worse than Lynnwood's. You might want to look at Mountlake Terrace as well, should be as cheap or cheaper than Lynnwood, but a little less traffic, a little quieter. Is there a specific reason Lynnwood and Auburn made it, but not Mountlake Terrace or Renton?

[secret_squirrel]

I've lived in both areas. I preferred the Lynnwood area. I found the east part (Alderwood & Brier), between I-5 and Canyon Park, a nice area, with good access to Seattle and the east side. The west side is nice, the nearer you are to Edmonds. Lynnwood is closer to beaches and Seattle, which is a plus to me. I could zip the kids down I-5 during the day and be at Green Lake in 15 minutes, Woodland Park in 20. We also liked riding the Burke-Gilman trail.

We currently live in the Lakeland Hills part of Auburn, which is about as family-friendly cookie-cutter as you can get. We have great parks nearby, walking trails and a few restaurants and grocery stores nearby. We spend more time in the car living here, however. YMMV. If you prefer a more rural lifestyle, Auburn might be a better fit. There is a lot of riding nearby, and farms in Enumclaw and Orting.