Moving to Washington on orders (Bellevue, Everett: apartments, rentals, to buy)

[3laiin3laiin]

Good morning everyone.

We are moving to Washington on military orders however our dilemma is that he is going to be working at NAS Whidbey Island while I'll be working out of NS Everett. Where would a good medium be for transportation and to live?

Very Respectfully,

3laiin3laiin

[hamellr]

I'm personally a fan of Mt. Vernon. It's a nice college town. But I'm not sure how rentals are going to be because of that. Usually they're in short supply in College towns. If you're able to buy right away it might be different.

[sll3454]

I tried to think of something with a better commute than Mount Vernon, but failed. The college in Mount Vernon is a community college and probably doesn't have much effect on rental availability. When I've checked, there have been rentals available, and surprisingly affordable.

[BellevueNative]

Mt. Vernon? A college town? That person has to be kidding.

Anyway, this is tricky because NAS Whidbey is so far north on the Island. Mt. Vernon is 28 miles to NASW and 34 miles to Everett. The drive to NASW would be tedious - it's not exactly a freeway drive - whereas the drive to Everett would be along I-5 in sometimes awful traffic. Personally, I'd suggest you pick a town close to one of the places so only one of you has to commute a significant distance. It sucks for that person, but Mt. Vernon is not exactly close to either destination, and then both of you would be miserable driving a crappy commute from a town that just kindof is in the middle. In that scenario some options are: Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Anacortes, Mukilteo and Everett (latter two he could take the Mukilteo ferry over to Whidbey).

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by BellevueNative

Mt. Vernon? A college town? That person has to be kidding.

Anyway, this is tricky because NAS Whidbey is so far north on the Island. Mt. Vernon is 28 miles to NASW and 34 miles to Everett. The drive to NASW would be tedious - it's not exactly a freeway drive - whereas the drive to Everett would be along I-5 in sometimes awful traffic. Personally, I'd suggest you pick a town close to one of the places so only one of you has to commute a significant distance. It sucks for that person, but Mt. Vernon is not exactly close to either destination, and then both of you would be miserable driving a crappy commute from a town that just kindof is in the middle. In that scenario some options are: Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Anacortes, Mukilteo and Everett (latter two he could take the Mukilteo ferry over to Whidbey).

The commute from Everett would either take him right through Mount Vernon (1 hr 15 min) or across the ferry. (1 hr 45 min - I've never taken the ferry, but this is what googlemaps says.) Assuming daytime shifts, it's true - driving to Everett from Mt. Vernon wouldn't be fun. We do it sometimes mid-morning, and it isn't bad, but I'm sure it is during rush hour. Living in Clinton would even out the commutes somewhat (timewise), but I've no idea about housing there.

[NWbyNW]

Driving from Everett to Mt. Vernon takes no effort. The worst part is driving through the reservation of Tulalip and Marysville, and it is certainly an area for speed traps. But the drive is quick and easy from Mt. Vernon to Everett. It is about a 40 minute drive at full speed.

Now driving to Mt. Vernon to Whidbey is simple, not much traffic, but less room to drive on. It is about 45 minutes from Mt. Vernon to Oak Harbor. The road is smaller and not as easy as interstate driving.


You are kind of in a bind being separated like this. Affordability, it might be worth living in Everett and driving up to Whidbey along the highway through the island. You will have to take a ferry though, which might be a negative or positive.

[ak-rev]

you two could probably rent apartments in both cities and save money by not having to commute then visit each other on your days off.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by BellevueNative

Mt. Vernon? A college town? That person has to be kidding.

No not really. Parts of it feel a lot like other college towns I've been in.

[BellevueNative]

Originally Posted by hamellr

No not really. Parts of it feel a lot like other college towns I've been in.

Except there's no colllege...? Sorry, a community college doesn't count as a college in the sense of "college town." Mt. Vernon is just an old town that has gone through a recent development period.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by BellevueNative

Except there's no colllege...? Sorry, a community college doesn't count as a college in the sense of "college town." Mt. Vernon is just an old town that has gone through a recent development period.

We will have to disagree on that niggling point then.