Good/Bad areas to live in Port Angeles (Tumwater, Poulsbo: rental market, condo)

[mrslovettstailor]

I have pretty much narrowed down our relocating to Port Angeles, seeing from posts and answers that it gives the most options to our family, all of who like different things and are different ages. Now going through old posts I have seen people talking about some parts of town that are "bad" or have alot of drug use. We are looking into the rental market now and I was wondering if you could tell me what are the "good" parts of town? What are the best areas to avoid? I have been to PA but didn't get as much time as I would have liked to check out all the different little areas so any help would be appreciated.

[mrslovettstailor]

Thanks to those who PM'd me on this subject, its been really helpful

[boxercrew4]

I'm planning to move to Port Angeles in the next 2 years, when my son is out of HS. I've been out to visit 4 times, but you never know until you live somewhere. I'd appreciate any responses on the best places to live also. I'm a city girl and husband is a country guy, so someplace in between is out goal. I'd like to be able to walk to the main shopping area and the harbor if possible.
Thanks

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by boxercrew4

I'm planning to move to Port Angeles in the next 2 years, when my son is out of HS. I've been out to visit 4 times, but you never know until you live somewhere. I'd appreciate any responses on the best places to live also. I'm a city girl and husband is a country guy, so someplace in between is out goal. I'd like to be able to walk to the main shopping area and the harbor if possible.
Thanks

There really isn't a "bad area" to speak of. Keep in mind that the farther "up the hill" you go in Port Angeles (PA), the more snow you'll get in the winter and the farther west you go, the more total inches of rain you'll get throughout the year. Closer to the water may get a bit more fog at times.

PA doesn't really have a main shopping area per se, rather shopping is here and there. Many people shop at the big box stores over in Sequim which is about a 20 minute drive from PA. In PA itself, there is the new Walmart on the east end of town. Safeway is mid town and Albertson's is up above town. Because these stores and other services are scattered about, most people drive here and drive there for their shopping. There is a transit bus system that covers the main parts of town.

As you recall from your visits, PA is a city built on a hillside. We do get a fair amount of gray and rain here during the fall, winter and early spring months. Walking down the hill is not bad but trudging up the hill carry a bag of groceries in each arm in the gray drizzle is not all that much fun.

Nonetheless, it would be feasible to walk to some shopping and the harbor area from where you live. As an example, if you lived in the vicinity of Safeway you could walk there to shop and also down the hill the mile or so (depending upon where you lived) to the waterfront park area. Being in this location would depend upon how your husband would feel about living right in the middle of town though-

[boxercrew4]

Thanks for your reply. After living in a big city for the past 9 years, living in the town of Port Angeles will seem like heaven to my husband,LOL. I'm on disabilty, but my husband will need to work. What is the work situation like there (not that it's good anywhere)? He doesn't mind a bit of a commute and again after the traffic here, it's much less stressful to drive in that area.

[temmtbi]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

I have pretty much narrowed down our relocating to Port Angeles, seeing from posts and answers that it gives the most options to our family, all of who like different things and are different ages. Now going through old posts I have seen people talking about some parts of town that are "bad" or have alot of drug use. We are looking into the rental market now and I was wondering if you could tell me what are the "good" parts of town? What are the best areas to avoid? I have been to PA but didn't get as much time as I would have liked to check out all the different little areas so any help would be appreciated.

Hi, I'm planning to retire to Port Angeles and came across your post asking about good/bad areas. I see that it's a few years old, so this may not reach you. But if it does, I'd be grateful if you'd let me know what you learned from others and your own experience about PA neighborhoods. Will rent first. I'd like to live somewhere wooded and private, and I'm thinking about the west side of PA. I have a lot of light sensitivity, so cloudy/rainy is fine for me!

Thanks!!!

[mev]

If I remember correctly, the OP spent a couple of years in Port Angeles. She hated it and moved 1 hour further east to North Kitsap/Poulsbo, I believe.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by temmtbi

Hi, I'm planning to retire to Port Angeles and came across your post asking about good/bad areas. I see that it's a few years old, so this may not reach you. But if it does, I'd be grateful if you'd let me know what you learned from others and your own experience about PA neighborhoods. Will rent first. I'd like to live somewhere wooded and private, and I'm thinking about the west side of PA. I have a lot of light sensitivity, so cloudy/rainy is fine for me!

Thanks!!!

My parents retired to unincorporated PA, Blue Mountain Road area and have loved it there the last 13 years.
They do see sun almost every day, if only a few hours in the afternoon because the mountain behind them splits the clouds. I recommend anything on the mountain side of 101, between about Kitchen-Dick Rd. and
Deer Park Road. Downtown and rural areas west of the city, toward Joyce are where the drug problems and related crime are more common.

[Back2Oregon]

So a few years later, same question: So many people advised me against even considering PA because of the drug and crime problems. And then someone in Sequim made a convincing case that the city is really working on controlling that and turning it into a safe place to live again. How is that going?

If you live there or know the area, where do you recommend that I look for a small home (2 BR)? A lot of those seem to be in the numbered streets, between Tumwater Truck Rd (most E of S Lincoln) and between S Ennis and between E 1st and E 12th. Are those areas OK? What about over by Shane Park?

Thanks greatly for your help. Really looking forward to getting to see things next weekend.

[Bac1963]

Looking to move to PA in a few years. Are there any good apt or condo complexes?