Central Washington (Seattle, Yakima, Wenatchee: fit in, transplants, real estate)

[BestintheWest]

Can anyone give me a few Central Washington towns, not high desert, with trees and greenery, affordable living cost(I know it is relative), and not too cold and very little snow? Just looking for a cooler and cleaner air place to move to.

[PS90]

Such a town doesn't exist in Central WA.

There are a few towns with "trees and greenery", such as Leavenworth, Cle Elum, Twisp/Winthrop, but all of those get pretty severe winters. And they are all fairly pricey, real estate-wise.

Then you have places like Yakima, which has fairly mild winters (mild by Eastern Washington standards), but I certainly wouldn't say that the Yakima valley has trees or greenery. At least not for more than a few weeks per year. And crime levels are high in places.

Ellensburg is a very nice town with a college, and has some greenery (although it is from hay fields, not trees), but is the exact definition of high desert. And it does get a fair amount of snow.

If you're looking for trees and greenery, you need to head to Western or Northeast Washington. If you're looking for mild, sunny winters with small amounts of snow, I would consider Tri-Cities. If you're looking for mild winters with no snow and constant drizzly rain, I would look at Western Washington.

I guess the only place that may fit in Central Washington - although it is very rural and depressed - is the Omak/Okanogan area. The Okanogan valley has some trees and greenery, real estate is reasonable, and the winters are milder than, say, Wenatchee or Ellensburg.

[yip812]

Originally Posted by BestintheWest

Can anyone give me a few Central Washington towns, not high desert, with trees and greenery, affordable living cost(I know it is relative), and not too cold and very little snow? Just looking for a cooler and cleaner air place to move to.

No.

Sorry, but pretty much no. Central Washington is a desert. Hot hot summers, cold winters, sometimes a little snow, sometimes a whole bunch. Less green, more brown.

We CAN offer affordable living, though. Pretty much because it's a freaking desert and no one wants to be here.

Most things you seek can be found in western WA. Except it costs a lot more to live over there.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by yip812

No.

Sorry, but pretty much no. Central Washington is a desert. Hot hot summers, cold winters, sometimes a little snow, sometimes a whole bunch. Less green, more brown.

We CAN offer affordable living, though. Pretty much because it's a freaking desert and no one wants to be here.

Most things you seek can be found in western WA. Except it costs a lot more to live over there.

Speak for yourself. I can tell you from 40 years of life in Eastern Washington that most people who live here would much rather live here than live in Western Washington.

[CrazyDonkey]

Central Washington gets some cold spells and snow (more the closer to the Cascade Mtns.), but it is not Chicago or Buffalo weather-wise. I'd say:

Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Leavenworth, and Cle Elum. The latter two are closer to or in the mountains, so can have snowier winters.

[BestintheWest]

Thanks for everyone's help. I will continue with the research.

[yip812]

Originally Posted by PS90

Speak for yourself. I can tell you from 40 years of life in Eastern Washington that most people who live here would much rather live here than live in Western Washington.

Of course. That's why they live here. Heck, I even love it here most of the time (less in the summer).

But that doesn't mean it's a place people are clamoring to get to.

[elkotronics]

And I hear that Soap Lake still wants ta put a 45-ft. tall lava lamp in downtown. Eh?

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by BestintheWest

Thanks for everyone's help. I will continue with the research.

Maybe you should look into the Kitsap or Olympic Peninsulas.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by yip812

Of course. That's why they live here. Heck, I even love it here most of the time (less in the summer).

But that doesn't mean it's a place people are clamoring to get to.

Yes. Eastern Washington is not growing like crazy or attracting hordes of transplants, but that's a very different thing than it being a place where no one wants to be.

People in Eastern Washington live here because they really WANT to live here. People could move to the Seattle area to have a better chance at a higher-paying job, but many choose to stay on the East side because they love it here, and would rather live here and make less money.

I know plenty of people who have moved from Western Washington to Eastern Washington for various reasons, and willingly gave up a high-paying job/career to be here. It was worth it to them to get away from the throngs of people, the traffic, the terrible rainy weather, etc.