Seattle: whats the pros and cons

Any other "suburb" type areas around it that have less population density issues?

Thanks for the responses.

Pros: Russell Wilson, other Seahwaks, Mariners.

Cons: ? I don't know

Greg wrote:

Pros: Russell Wilson, other Seahwaks, Mariners.

Cons: ? I don't know

Cons: Ted Bundy

Move to Bellevue and avoid the homeless camps/ wokeness /Chaz/jenny durkan and Sawant utopia issues.

All the pros with none of the cons (also closer to the mountains and running trails).

ohiaaaaaaa wrote:

Any other "suburb" type areas around it that have less population density issues?

Thanks for the responses.

In addition to Bellevue, look at Kirkland - maybe Redmond (if you have kids, not so great for a single guy there).

Stay away from Renton/Kent area.

Pros:

* No state income tax.

* Good job market for techies.

* Great layout for running for biking.

Cons:

* Gets about 1.5 weeks of sun per year.

* Dating scene is awful for men. Male:female ratio is 13:10 for age range 20-39.

* Lots of petty crime.

* A very in-your-face style of leftwing politics.

* Housing is expensive. The median house, a fixer-upper, is over 10x median household income.

ohiaaaaaaa wrote:

Any other "suburb" type areas around it that have less population density issues?

Thanks for the responses.

North of Seattle is where I grew up and still live. I commute into Bellevue 5 days a week and live just north of my hometown. It's a different story for me obviously because I have a lot of friends and family who still live here or who have moved back to start their families that I have the privilege of a strong social network, but I like the more affordable housing, the many parks, that Americana suburb feel, the ability to drive to and park at restaurants or events, and many other little slice of life perks that I can't list at the moment.

I think it comes down to what type of person you are. I'm a down to earth, political moderate who likes to just hang back on a Saturday in my backyard and work the grill. I don't drink so I don't need to be in proximity to the night life hot spots so I can affordably shuttle myself home safely during the evenings.

If you're more politically woke, like the city life, are into being close to the nightlife/action, hate driving/commuting, etc., you'd hate where I live and want to be in Seattle.

Indy to Seattle wrote:

Greg wrote:

Pros: Russell Wilson, other Seahwaks, Mariners.

Cons: ? I don't know

Cons: Ted Bundy

Gary Ridgeway

Whats the general cost diff btw bellevue and seattle? I could do some zillow comps, just lazy.

I am completely anti-woke, cancel culture type s hit, just want some good running, mtns. Everyone has their own opinion, just not interested in being fed political bs.

ohiaaaaaaa wrote:

Whats the general cost diff btw bellevue and seattle? I could do some zillow comps, just lazy.

I am completely anti-woke, cancel culture type s hit, just want some good running, mtns. Everyone has their own opinion, just not interested in being fed political bs.

you will love bellevue then.

cost wise, probably more expensive than Seattle for home buying (driven by the far superior and better public schools). Although Seattle has UBER expensive areas as well so its all relative. Renting probably similar. Bill Gates lives in the Medina neighborhood which is basically 1 mile from downtown Bellevue.

You can find some more affordable apartments in bellevue if you look around- downtown area has really been built up nicely and has a decent social scene, though is not as edgy as Seattle .

cheapest neighborhoods would be the crossroads/lake hills area, which is filled to the brim with h1b workers (mostly indians), but obviously has other demographics as well. Schools are fantastic there too. Any other neighborhood is primo real estate and you will pay for it if you buy a home.

You are hop and skip away from i-90 which gets you to snoqualmie pass skiing and hiking in 45 mins (people in seattle have to drive across a congested bridge first). Also nearby tiger/cougar mountain which has some of the best running in the region (believe Scott Jurek trains there?). Bridal Trails in bellevue is also first rate and easy to access.

And zero PC/SJW culture. Basically just families and tech workers that care about schools, nature, and making money.

Great post.

Little-known fact: Sammamish, WA has the highest median income of any city in the entire U.S.

Pros: God’s magnificent creation.

Cons: Democrats

Something to consider, and a point that i fear may be being overlooked, is what a really nice neighborhood means to your everyday life. I say this as a person who has splurged on nothing except this, and of anything that money can buy, it has the largest impact.

As one who runs virtually every day, i can do it in a neighborhood that knocks my socks off every time i run or walk through it. It makes such a difference, and it does so often, from running my routes through the neighborhood, walking to a really nice grocery store, library, a restaurant and pub (with outdoor dining patio) just a block away (with dozens more within a mile). a high school running track less than a half mile away, a major trail system within a quarter mile, parks, good schools, etc. Honestly, unless i need to drive to work or the gym or go to a big box convenience store, i don't drive. And the place is gorgeous. That becomes my entertainment.

Yeah, it costs, but maybe look for a mother-in-law apartment, as lots of them are being built nowadays, or rent in one of the apartment buildings.

I won't bore you with my story, but i got our house about 25 years ago, and even then, as one of the more modest houses on the block, it was a stretch. But i am so glad i did.

For reference, i am talking about the neighborhoods just north of downtown and particularly north of the ship canal bridge.

Good luck.

And as for the politics, i don't notice that anyone every raises the subject. People generally tend to stay to themselves, and that is off-putting to some people, but it is just the culture here.

Ballard?

I do agree with this. When I first moved to Seattle, I was in upper Queen Anne, and I loved the scenery and loved running there and down by Lake Union. Now I live in Alki area in West Seattle and running there is magnificent as well. I do sometimes think of moving to the East side like Sammamish or Issaquah bc I think more and more big tech will expand over there and will be more convenient for me. However, until now, I have not considered East side as it felt to me as very boring and look like any other cities with normal big box retailers which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but not what drew me to Seattle.

I think we’ll just stick with where we’re living, but with too much time on our hands, I like to just think of options.

Its very expensive and rains for 10 months out of the year. Traffic is also brutal. Great place if you like hiking and skiing. Otherwise it sucks.

Close proximity to Sasquatch.

CCB wrote:

Ballard?

I live in Ballard. It's pretty dang nice here.

Came from Portland, and was in Minnesota/Iowa prior to that. It's much better than PDX. Minnesota is incredible though, but offers different great things than Seattle does.

The running is different, you have to get used to concrete. Although from Ballard it's nice being able to hit discovery park, loop magnolia, green lake, golden gardens, carkeek, burke gilman. Drive on the weekend to get some nice trails on the east side of the lakes.

My partner and I love it here. As many posters have mentioned, it is very expensive though. Thankful that we both have good jobs and within a few years (once young 30s) should be able to down-pay a house.

lots of different living to offer too. If you want to be by salt water and like block plan neighborhood, then west/NW seattle is great. If you want to live in the woods or close to the mountains, head over other side of lake washington/sammamish and get more neighborhood style places.

Seattle is a damn fvcktastrophe. Would you really want to live somewhere with so many people who think like antifa f@ggots that the police lose control of blocks of territory for weeks at a time?