Moving from Oklahoma to Washington (Seattle, Tacoma: renting, house, best school)

[OKSunny]

I am going to be graduating from the University of Oklahoma with my MLIS (masters of library & information studies) in May 2010! Yay-me! I am wanting to stay on the west part of WA and probably south of Seattle-where I heard it is cheaper.
I am 33yrs old, female, single mother of a 7yr old. I live a pretty active, healthy lifestyle, am a liberal and a dog lover. I can probably afford around 1000k/month to start out.
Can anyone tell me about the areas between Seattle and Tacoma---affordability and school quality are the most important issues to me now. Ideally I would like a small, 3bedroom, cottage like house with a fenced yard. I really like the mountains and would like to be within an hours drive to the beach.
Thank you so much!

[Inkpoe]

Also look into Olympia, because south of Seattle the best school district in in Olympia. It's everything you want-- Mountains, and water is down the street, Liberal, healthy. And its affordable.

But South of Seattle, the odds of renting a house for around 1000k/month seems kinda low, but if you search long and hard, I'm sure it can be found.

[Sobefobik]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

Also look into Olympia, because south of Seattle the best school district in in Olympia. It's everything you want-- Mountains, and water is down the street, Liberal, healthy. And its affordable.

But South of Seattle, the odds of renting a house for around 1000k/month seems kinda low, but if you search long and hard, I'm sure it can be found.

Yes, I agree. Olympia matches what you want, and it's very quick access to the beaches.