Debating a move to Port Angeles. (Seattle, Bellingham: rentals, condo, crime)

[alyOSU]

Hi. I am currently debating a move to Port Angeles, and was hoping to get some more insight on the area.

A little back story about me, I am a 23 year old single mother to two elementary school age children. I currently work in banking and finance and have pretty consistently since I was nineteen. I live in the midwest - IN, but throughout my life bounced around between Southern California, Oklahoma, Indiana, Idaho, and Central Oregon. We moved out of Oregon when the pandemic got bad and went to live near family, but as much as I love the mid-west... it's just not for us. I've set our sights on Washington based off a desire for the climate in Port Angeles and on the Olympic Peninsula. The access to the mountains and hiking and the ocean as well as a small town lifestyle for my kids within distance to a city if need be. (My daughter is a gymnast.) To be honest, we miss the woods.

I've heard a lot about homelessness and crime rating, but I do wonder if it's a true problem - or if comparing it to Chicago, it's really not that bad. We had a homeless problem in Bend, OR but while it was prevelant we lived just fine letting people do them and minding our own business. But as a single mom, I also worry about the safety of myself and my kids while in our home. How bad is the unemployment situation? Is it possible to get a job if you're not born & bred? How does the cost of living look right now for renters? (Besides what I can find on Zillow or FB Marketplace) Are wages comprable to rent prices? How do things tend to look for single parents in terms of judgement/acceptance?

It is all of these things that Google dances around that i'm hoping to get a real answer and some perspective on. We were looking pretty strongly at Alaska and I can't say that we will never make that move, but the OP seems a little more doable while giving our little family the things we desire.

[Hemlock140]

While Port Angeles does have a homeless problem it's definitely not like you see in big cities like Chicago or Seattle, and the crime is not bad, mostly property crime in the downtown areas. The close you get to Sequim the less crime. My parents lived for over 20 years on Blue Mountain, unincorporated Port Angeles and never saw any crime in over 20 years. My Mom is still alive, but now in Sequim, which is even nicer, and with better schools for your kids. With your experience I would expect you to find work in either Sequim or P.A. and they are only 20 minutes apart, so easy commute either way. Oh, and Port Angeles seems to have a surprising number of Marijuana stores for a small city, if that means anything. I seem to recall 6-7 last time I was there.

[rantiquity]

I have lived in Sequim for the past 20 years and seldom visit PA unless on some kind of business (auto related service, moving theater mainly) so I really can't judge PA one way or the other.

Sequim has everything we need and without a parking problem. All the big store are located in the western part of the city so the rest of Sequim is not effected with the hustle/bustle. Some traffic comes from PA to those stores as PA is close and easy to commute as some in Sequim do commute back and forth to work. Some even commute across the Hoods canal to work.

A lot of the population in the Sequim area is outside of the city limits, probably more outside than inside. Example: Sunland is a large golf community as is Dungeness golf course and there many others.

Down side....housing is tight and cost seems to be increasing daily.

The overall Sequim population is on the older side as many retired people move here because of the weather, less rain and snow. Mountains and salt water is only minutes away.

The school system is very good and centrally located just a few block from downtown. The people even being older support the schools.
That is my pitch for Olympic Peninsula. Have any other question in general on this area I will be glad to answer.

As said the crime in Sequim is not a problem any more then any other town of its size. For example graffiti is all most unheard of.

[Ruth4Truth]

OP, you seem to have an unusual definition of "within distance of a city". Which city did you have in mind, that PA was "within distance" of? Seattle is hours away, accessible only by ferry. Ditto--Bellingham.

[CrazyDonkey]

Rentals on the Olympic Peninsula and Port Angeles are in very short supply:

https://olympic.craigslist.org/search/apa

https://www.zillow.com/port-angeles-wa/rentals/

It is probably easier to buy a condo/house than to find a rental.

Seattle is the opposite, with over 1,000 2BD rentals available at Zillow.

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

OP, you seem to have an unusual definition of "within distance of a city". Which city did you have in mind, that PA was "within distance" of? Seattle is hours away, accessible only by ferry. Ditto--Bellingham.

This was my thought too, reading through. Port Angeles and Sequim are great places for people who DON'T need to ever go to the city. If you want small town and woods and hiking... yes. But it's not short or easy to get anywhere else from there.

[alyOSU]

I completely understand where your question is coming from! It may be unusual, but we’re pretty used to having at least an hour drive to “go into town” for anything outside of a local Walmart, and where we used to live that was also an hour away.. The farthest thing we would travel for would be my daughters gymnastics, and by google maps it’s about an hour and a half drive from PA to the gym we’ve been looking at. She’s only 6, so I have no idea if this is going to be a lifetime commitment for her yet. We’ve tried living closer to large cities, and we were completely miserable. It doesn’t do well for my mental health or my kids sanity. These kids are happiest outside exploring.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by alyOSU

I completely understand where your question is coming from! It may be unusual, but we’re pretty used to having at least an hour drive to “go into town” for anything outside of a local Walmart, and where we used to live that was also an hour away.. The farthest thing we would travel for would be my daughters gymnastics, and by google maps it’s about an hour and a half drive from PA to the gym we’ve been looking at. She’s only 6, so I have no idea if this is going to be a lifetime commitment for her yet. We’ve tried living closer to large cities, and we were completely miserable. It doesn’t do well for my mental health or my kids sanity. These kids are happiest outside exploring.

You will be glad to know that both PA and Sequim have a Walmart. Both cities also do have gymnastics classes/gyms. I understand your desire to be away from big cities, it's why we are in Sammamish. Unless a really serious major problem the Olympic Medical Center in PA has everything that would be needed, though my parents when older had to go to Harrison at times. Buying might actually be easier than renting, and that area is one of the few parts of the state where prices have not shot up that much. My brother for example bought a house in Sequim on 1/2 acre for $255k 3 years ago, and it's still only valued at $337k.

[rkcarguy]

alyOSU, I think you'll be happy with the aforementioned areas IF you can afford the housing.
"Tight" is not the word for the housing market. Bloated and extremely overpriced, especially compared to what the jobs pay, is more in line.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by alyOSU

The farthest thing we would travel for would be my daughters gymnastics, and by google maps it’s about an hour and a half drive from PA to the gym we’ve been looking at.

There is a gym in Port Angeles: https://klahhanegymnastics.org/

And one in Port Hadlock: https://www.facebook.com/twistersgymnasticsandtumbling/

I'm assuming the gym you referred to is in the Bremerton/Silverdale area. There can be backups at the Hood Canal Bridge, especially in the tourist season.

For many more available rentals, look in Kitsap County.