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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by jon1987
... best for a politically libertarian leaning person? (or would it not matter?)
Doesn't matter, WA is generally political 'tolerant', but what really happens is that 2-3 counties control the vote for the entire state, thus 36 or 37 counties get no representation. It can be painful if you want your issues to advance in an election or if you are an employer or business owner. It is a piece of cake if you are just an employee, and even easier if you rent your property rather than own.
Do not come to WA if you are a business owner with high level of capital assets required to operate. Or an employer or farmer, especially a dairy farmer. Most have fled to Idaho (and it is not easy to move a farm, when it takes many yrs to build soils, crops and infrastructure). WA can also be OK for business if you have very low assets (rented computers) and minimal gross receipts, B&O tax is burdensome and administered on GROSS. (thus no employees either, UI and L&I is very very high).
crime = property crime. The problem with the area is there is the main town of bellingham and several surrounding suburbs (Ferndale, Lynden, Everson, etc. etc) which have their own police departments. The suburbs off all those cities (Custer, Birchbay, Maple falls, areas outside Ferndale, Lynden, Everson etc. are lumped together and called "Whatcom County" by the local Police Department. So you have Bellingham City police in the center under their own jurisdiction....and each suburb has their own police dept. The Whatcom county police department (all 4 deputies lol) has to cover all the others from east to west which is at least an hour driving time apart. The problem is the Whatcom County police department has their hands full in places like Maple Falls. So if you are a resident in Custer....it takes them an hour for them to respond. Local theives have taken FULL advantage of this and it is actually more dangerous to live rurally in Whatcom county than in the city per capita. By dangerous I mean A LOT of property crime (property theft, break-ins, car theft, vandalism, etc)...and occassionally a violent crime related to that. It is quite high...and I know other cities are worse....but its high enough to be scary...and frequent enough for it to happen to YOU and not just a friend of a friend.
I wouldn't wan't that many police or have to rely on them. I prefer to do my own policing as far as law n order goes.
I wouldn't wan't that many police or have to rely on them. I prefer to do my own policing as far as law n order goes.
As far as property crime is concerned, I believe Everett is the worst in the state. Bellingham has property crime rate of 1 in every 18 people whereas Everett's is around 1 in every 13. Everett has a huge amount of drug activity in certain areas (greater casino road area + Broadway area in particular), but it definitely has beautiful areas worth living in.
However I would say the worst places to live in the state regarding crime statistics are 1. Tacoma (Just plain bad) - 2. Yakima (Very violent/ gang activity) - 3. Everett (Drugs lead to large amount of criminals) - 4. Lakewood (Very violent) - 5. Kent (never been there but apparently it is not so great) - 6. Spokane (fairly nice for its size, lots of trashy low income housing though) - Technically Tukwila is the worst but Tukwila's statistics are skewed due to the huge amount of mall activity.
As far as nice places to live with a fairly large population are concerned...Redmond - Bellevue - Kirkland - Mukilteo - Medina (obviously) - I think Anacortes is pretty cool - Richland is nice if you like the climate of the East side of the mountains - I have also heard very good things about Port Townsend. Mount Vernon is apparently a beautiful place to live but as far as crime statistics go it does have a little bit of work to do.
As far as property crime is concerned, I believe Everett is the worst in the state. Bellingham has property crime rate of 1 in every 18 people whereas Everett's is around 1 in every 13. Everett has a huge amount of drug activity in certain areas (greater casino road area + Broadway area in particular), but it definitely has beautiful areas worth living in.
However I would say the worst places to live in the state regarding crime statistics are 1. Tacoma (Just plain bad) - 2. Yakima (Very violent/ gang activity) - 3. Everett (Drugs lead to large amount of criminals) - 4. Lakewood (Very violent) - 5. Kent (never been there but apparently it is not so great) - 6. Spokane (fairly nice for its size, lots of trashy low income housing though) - Technically Tukwila is the worst but Tukwila's statistics are skewed due to the huge amount of mall activity.
As far as nice places to live with a fairly large population are concerned...Redmond - Bellevue - Kirkland - Mukilteo - Medina (obviously) - I think Anacortes is pretty cool - Richland is nice if you like the climate of the East side of the mountains - I have also heard very good things about Port Townsend. Mount Vernon is apparently a beautiful place to live but as far as crime statistics go it does have a little bit of work to do.
I have heard Maple Falls is bad. Is this an immigrant community primarily consisting of Russians?
What about the low population areas one would think there would be less crime in those areas since there are less people there.
Umm...Maple Falls is so small that I don't think it is even considered a town. Seems more of a rest stop. Population around 300...largely white. Nearby town is Everson: population around 2,100. and Sumas: population around 1100, it is literally right on the border. Both towns I have never been to...but they seem normal enough.
My experience with smaller towns in WA are alright....I absolutely LOVE Langley on Whidbey Island. It has been years since I have been there but if I were ever going to move to a small town it would be Langley. Right on the beach with a bunch of quaint little shops and a pizza parlor that is pretty much unbeatable (last time I checked...about 8 years ago). Sequim is alright...Port Angeles seems like there are a bunch of tweakers, but it is alright. Lake Stevens is really a nice place to live but I think living there is pretty expensive. Snohomish is really a cool place to live with a downtown that has a lot of character.
Whatever you do, do not move to Toppenish (gangs), Tukwila (mall crime), Forks (bunch of rapists), and I believe Sunnyside is pretty bad but I am not sure.
Umm...Maple Falls is so small that I don't think it is even considered a town. Seems more of a rest stop. Population around 300...largely white. Nearby town is Everson: population around 2,100. and Sumas: population around 1100, it is literally right on the border. Both towns I have never been to...but they seem normal enough.
My experience with smaller towns in WA are alright....I absolutely LOVE Langley on Whidbey Island. It has been years since I have been there but if I were ever going to move to a small town it would be Langley. Right on the beach with a bunch of quaint little shops and a pizza parlor that is pretty much unbeatable (last time I checked...about 8 years ago). Sequim is alright...Port Angeles seems like there are a bunch of tweakers, but it is alright. Lake Stevens is really a nice place to live but I think living there is pretty expensive. Snohomish is really a cool place to live with a downtown that has a lot of character.
Whatever you do, do not move to Toppenish (gangs), Tukwila (mall crime), Forks (bunch of rapists), and I believe Sunnyside is pretty bad but I am not sure.
Thanks for the info. I'm interested in small towns where if you have a neighbor they might be 1/2 mile or more down the street.
Just want to chime in here! Washington resident for 41 years, and I've lived &/or worked all over the state as an electrician/welder for most of those years. Also, my kids & I rarely sit at home, we go-go-go! My youngest (7 yr-old) has even visited 9 countries! My parents raised me (and my 6 siblings) to travel, and experience the world, even when money is tight! We 'relative' surfed the country when I was growing up, and I visited every state by the time I was 14 - except Alaska. Did that one on my own when I was 22.
But, Washington - after reading these posts I feel like an expert! Lol! We're couchsurfers now, have people from all over the world stay with us all the time, and we also visit somewhere within driving distance one weekend a month. Also, as I stated, I've worked on long jobs everywhere in Washington. However, I'll start with places I've actually lived!
Wenatchee - grew up in the region, own 2 rental houses there. One house is a beautiful 4 bedroom victorian downtown that I bought 12 years ago to eventually retire in. I grew up on a ranch (orchard) close to town, and I have 4 siblings who still own very large orchards in the surrounding areas - Chelan, Entiat, Orondo & Malaga/Tarpiscan. The area was a GREAT place to grow up in - in the 70's & 80's. I lived much of my young adult life up Halvorson Canyon, a VERY rural place up towards Mission Ridge, the ski hill. 22-26 & 30-35. I loved it up there, owned a small old farmhouse that I slowly renovated. Close to Mission Ridge, surrounded by wildlife, mountains and great neighbors. But, having to send my kids to school in a rapidly deteriorating town? Sucked! The town and area is chocked FULL of meth addicts! Mexican gang-bangers, low-life welfare moms, it's a freaking third-world country with a little infra-structure! Bad news! I have 27 nieces and nephews (with a few adoptions, my family tends to adopt kids that need homes, and I have 2 adopted teens myself!). Of those 27 kids, 22 were/are teen parents. SO not cool! i'm thankful I got my (youngest) kids out when I did, they're all in college or on their way. I have 4 kids from 18-28, none are parents or even close! Some Wenatchee schools are WAY more than 1/2 hispanic, and WAY more than 1/2 receive free lunches. Poverty everywhere! Funny thing is - it's a REPUBLICAN town! Lol! (The people with their hands out the MOST for free/subsidized everything, vote against it!) Crime - everywhere - as well! I won't go into too much detail, but it's become so invasive and time consuming and really, mexicans rule the town - don't even apply for a job unless you're bi-lingual (wtf?)
....PROS - 300+ days of sunshine every year, glorious snow & Mission Ridge/Stevens Pass in the winter, Water skiing on the Columbia/Lake Chelan (towed my boat with me every day to go after work!), backpacking (I LOVE it there - it's beautiful country), whitewater kayaking on the Wenatchee (used to go every morning before work!), rockclimbing - Peshastin Pinnacles, Stevens Pass - can't NOT mention the Enchantments! - fishing (loved to go everyday after work when it was too cold to wakeboard) - gardening - I had a one acre garden most years, canned everything, and with the bounty from my family? We ate like KINGS! Also, my boys LOVE to hunt! They could do that in our backyard up Halvorson Canyon!
CONS! BAD HORRIBLE schools! CRAP for schools! My kids were 2 full YEARS behind when we moved, they had to do 6 hours of homework every night for 5 months just to catch up! Poverty! OMG! The poverty is sickening and saddening, when we visit that is always brought up - sadly, it's these teen nieces and nephews always bringing up how poor they are! Well, hello! Lol! I have 3 kids in college now, they're struggling, but not to buy baby food/diapers while making less than $9 an hour! Crap, I'm the only kid of 7 that's NOT a gramma! It's NOT genes, it's the prevailing culture, without ANY doubt! You want successful kids? Steer WAY clear of this place! Just want to retire? It may be okay. Just learn spanish, as you will often be a minority.
Olympic penninsula - lived in Port Angeles (actually Joyce). I also go there a few times a year, usually to backpack/camp on the beaches and in the rainforest. Summer is awesome, every other time of year is SO boring! Rain, rain, rain, nothing to do. Really! Nada! Zilch! But, it really IS an awesome place to visit in the summer! 2nd Beach - oh yes! Camp there 1-3 days, hike up from Rialto for a week, do the Hoh River Trail for sure! Do it every year! Hurricane Ridge, oh there's more, but I, myself would not want to live there.
Same note - Westport, Raymond, South Bend, Aberdeen - Some fun places, we visit every year, some great people, and great surfing - my 13 yr-old loves to surf. But live there? Maybe great for some, but like I said earlier - I like to LIVE and DO! Not much there, lots of druggies, lots of depression.
Mount Vernon/Bellingham area - lived there for 2 months every year for 5 years! Going through apprenticeship training to be an electrician! Crap! Cold, wet - and BORING! Lol! I did take a few great oceanic navigating/piloting kayaking courses in Bellingam one of those years. And I REALLY tried hard to experience the area, and find SOMETHING to like about it all! I tried, I REALLY did, but my schooling ended 6 years ago, and I have never been back! Hated everything but Chuckanut Drive and the Oyster Bar. But didn't even like that enough to ever go back! Go see it once. Tulips? Lol!
Whidbey Island - My best friend lived there for years . Used to go visit her once a month, at least. I loved it, loved the people, loved the community. Langley. Great artist community. But weather that's worse than Seattles! Yikes! Rain, rain, rain, always overcast - if you love that, maybe this town is for you!
Seattle area - lived all over here! Lol! But, as a parent I will only touch on the place I have lived as a parent. I lived in Kirkland for 5 years, it was just okay. I loved the Marina, my kids and I all took awesome sailing lessons! Lol! We're all certified bareboat operators, so we can travel & rent boats to sail! Too freaking cool! But, the downside - Kirkland still has the HUGE metro influence - lots of asphalt, mass people (too me), and it was SCARY to let my kids walk around on their own. Lived there, and quite a few other places in the region. Des Moines, Redmond, Sammamish...
But, now - we live on Mercer Island. I don't own here, I rent. And I rent out one house in Wenatchee for nearly the price I pay here! It's a freaking oasis here on the island! I NEVER lock my doors, my kids run around like they're in a rural town, and the schools? Well the extra fundraisers they have every year MORE than fill gaps! I live in a 5 bedroom house bordering 5 acres of woods and a pond! It's right outside my front door! My neighbors are quiet and awesome, and high freaking achieving! Lol! I shared a fence with Tod & Tara Lieweke until last month when they moved! We shared the expense to add a gate to be able to go back & forth, which we did often - sometimes several times every day! Lol! in case you don't know, Tod lieweke was the CEO for Paul Allen. Paul was a co-founder for Microsoft, he since branched off in many directions! Lol! I've only just met him a couple of times, and only through my neighbors! Tod & Tara! I've met MASS other high-achievers here, though - my children's friends! OMG, seems like every week we meet new CEO's!
We LOVE LOVE LOVE living next to two cities! We go to the theatre (live plays) every week. We are members of SAM, the zoo, the Science Center & the Aquarium. But, I won't lie, it's SO hard to live here, 300 days of sun in eastern wa, 300+ days of dismal clouds & rain here in western wa. I ONLY moved here, because my little girl needed mass surgeries and needed to be near Children's. She just had her 29th surgery! Yet, I am SO happy that that my kids went to these schools! Thank God, my kids aren't parents!
The ONLY place I would EVER live in this state is right here, on Mercer Island. Move here! It's sorta 'closed off' if you don't LIVE here, you will not be accepted! Lol! I can deal with that! Never have had to EVER lock my doors in 8 years, no reason to. Yet, I'm 7 minutes from downtown Seattle AND from downtown Bellevue, as well!
I have been to every pocket & corner of this state - so have my kids! This post is just a little morsel! Lol! Don't know if I'll ever be back - just had alittle bit of time tonight, usually I'm working, working, working at my lil' business to support all these kids! Lol! But I AM a democrat through and through - I WANT MY taxes to help my fellow Americans - I DON'T want the money I pay to kill people - I',m PISSED OFF that MY money was spent on BULLETS to KILL 200,000+ Iranian civillians - this could be YOUR family, peolpe! Wake the F Up!
Moses Lake, Chelan, Ephrata, Pateros, numerous other small towns - all crap.
Well, the wife and I made it to Spokane, WA.
I have to say I absolutely love it...
We arrived 3 weeks ago, and wouldn't you know it once we got settled in it started snowing and hasn't stopped... LOL
We were able to rent a "small" place in the South Hills area for now (literally 1/2 the size from what we moved out of) our plans are to rent for 6 months, then buy our own place. Our rent is all paid in advance, now I have to go get a JOB, once I have a JOB I can then get a loan to buy a house...
Our credit is VERY solid and unblemished; however, no lender will loan me money for a house unless I have a JOB.
All of your responses have been very helpful, thank you very much, we truly love Spokane and we'll make it work one way or another!!!
See ya around!
C-
Travelertami, I totally agree with the last paragraph of your post!
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