Tale of Two 'Burbs: Boston vs. Seattle (Healthcare/Schools/Daycares)? (Spokane: hotel, neighborhood)

[bostonmom12345]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are thinking of moving from the Boston suburbs to Redmond/Bellevue/Kirkland to be closer to family on the West Coast and find better opportunities professionally. For anyone who's lived in both places, how do healthcare and public schools compare? It's a big move and these are the two final puzzle pieces I'm trying to understand. I had an amazing L&D experience at Newton-Wellesley Hospital (despite 35 hours in labor and an emergency C) and have generally been very happy with Harvard Vanguard/Atrius Health. We also love our (albeit very expensive, 25-40% more than we'd pay in Seattle) daycare. I am nervous I'll have regrets about leaving if these dimensions suck comparatively. Any thoughts? Many, many thanks in advance!

[KoNgFooCj]

Seattle has better public schools. Boston has better healthcare.

[Gardyloo]

I would not be concerned in the slightest about any reduction in the quality of healthcare or education. The Seattle region is on a par with Boston and Philly in terms of medical resources, with numerous high quality providers and networks. And the east side suburbs you're targeting have excellent schools and other community resources.

Remember there's no state or local income tax in Washington, and utility expenses are going to be quite a lot cheaper than in the Boston area (warmer winters, less need for a/c in the summers) so if you want to redirect those funds to daycare or other cost of living areas, you'll still probably be money ahead.

[thatguy950]

You’ll probably have to deal with lower wages in Seattle vs Boston

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by bostonmom12345

Hi everyone! My husband and I are thinking of moving from the Boston suburbs to Redmond/Bellevue/Kirkland to be closer to family on the West Coast and find better opportunities professionally. For anyone who's lived in both places, how do healthcare and public schools compare? It's a big move and these are the two final puzzle pieces I'm trying to understand. I had an amazing L&D experience at Newton-Wellesley Hospital (despite 35 hours in labor and an emergency C) and have generally been very happy with Harvard Vanguard/Atrius Health. We also love our (albeit very expensive, 25-40% more than we'd pay in Seattle) daycare. I am nervous I'll have regrets about leaving if these dimensions suck comparatively. Any thoughts? Many, many thanks in advance!

Hi BostonMom. I think you'll find schools and healthcare quite similar. My kids were born at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, excellent. Some of the top notch medicine in the area is in Seattle proper, I know the same is true of Boston. In my experience, people who relocate from Boston have a fairly seamless transition, I have heard some of them say that they are able to access hiking/skiing and the mountains more quickly out here. I went to UVM in Vermont and came out here after university, I can tell you that I don't miss the frigid New England winters. Best wishes.

[SunAndRain808]

Originally Posted by bostonmom12345

Hi everyone! My husband and I are thinking of moving from the Boston suburbs to Redmond/Bellevue/Kirkland to be closer to family on the West Coast and find better opportunities professionally. For anyone who's lived in both places, how do healthcare and public schools compare? It's a big move and these are the two final puzzle pieces I'm trying to understand. I had an amazing L&D experience at Newton-Wellesley Hospital (despite 35 hours in labor and an emergency C) and have generally been very happy with Harvard Vanguard/Atrius Health. We also love our (albeit very expensive, 25-40% more than we'd pay in Seattle) daycare. I am nervous I'll have regrets about leaving if these dimensions suck comparatively. Any thoughts? Many, many thanks in advance!

I know that you are mainly curious about healthcare and daycare for your kids, if you and your significant other end up moving to the Seattle area.

I also want to add that if you are looking to make friends here or to get to know the locals here, they tend to be standoff-ish, aloof, cold, anti-social.
That compared to the more social, outgoing people in Boston. I know because I have visited Boston on numerous occasions to visit a friend doing his medical residency at Boston General Hospital and one of my relatives used to live in the Newton area.

Not saying that all Seattlites are like this. But compared to the locals in Boston, people here tend to be more guarded, don't like accepting Facebook friend invites, and people I have met at Meet Up events here in Seattle tend to ghost out on you.

Good luck with your move to Seattle if you all end up moving here.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by SunAndRain808

I know that you are mainly curious about healthcare and daycare for your kids, if you and your significant other end up moving to the Seattle area.

I also want to add that if you are looking to make friends here or to get to know the locals here, they tend to be standoff-ish, aloof, cold, anti-social.
That compared to the more social, outgoing people in Boston. I know because I have visited Boston on numerous occasions to visit a friend doing his medical residency at Boston General Hospital and one of my relatives used to live in the Newton area.

Not saying that all Seattlites are like this. But compared to the locals in Boston, people here tend to be more guarded, don't like accepting Facebook friend invites, and people I have met at Meet Up events here in Seattle tend to ghost out on you.

Good luck with your move to Seattle if you all end up moving here.

I hear this so often and I just don't agree. I have a number of great friends in Seattle, more than I can handle actually . I think a lot of it is about establishing permanence, rooting yourself in a neighborhood and getting involved in your community.

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by SunAndRain808

I know that you are mainly curious about healthcare and daycare for your kids, if you and your significant other end up moving to the Seattle area.

I also want to add that if you are looking to make friends here or to get to know the locals here, they tend to be standoff-ish, aloof, cold, anti-social.
That compared to the more social, outgoing people in Boston. I know because I have visited Boston on numerous occasions to visit a friend doing his medical residency at Boston General Hospital and one of my relatives used to live in the Newton area.

Not saying that all Seattlites are like this. But compared to the locals in Boston, people here tend to be more guarded, don't like accepting Facebook friend invites, and people I have met at Meet Up events here in Seattle tend to ghost out on you.

Good luck with your move to Seattle if you all end up moving here.

I’m a former Bostonian...lived downtown and in Millis, Framingham and Maynard. Worked in Newton. I live in Spokane now but lived in Anacortes and spent lots of time in and around Seattle and I think western WA is far more friendly and open than anywhere in the Boston area.

[leastprime]

sidebar:
Issaquah's Swedish Hospital Campus is like a 5 star hotel, as seen from the lobby.
[If you are planning more babies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irjH36_CcdE ]

We use Overlake for no other reason than the clinics are close to us in Redmond.