Moving to Washington! Help! (Seattle, Tacoma: apartment complex, rentals, condo)

[tylerloder]

Well my wife and I finally got our chance to move to Washington state from the mid-west. I will be working for the government near American Lake VA hospital. We want to rent in the beginning, would rather not be an apartment complex. Can anyone suggest an area where house/condo rentals are affordable? I have been looking at Puyallup and have heard good things about it (and some bad). I dont mind a little drive and I do like the idea of Puyallup since it is a train ride away from Seattle, and a quick hop on the highway to head West for the ocean. Gig Harbor seems nice too, but kind of isolated from Seattle and a pain of you want to go to the ocean.

My wife is a music teacher (K-12), so she will want to plug into the school districts.

Please give me some more suggestions! Our budget will be between $800-$1250 per month. Thanks!

[Inkpoe]

Puyallup isn't necessarily a "train ride" away from Seattle... it is a "commuter train ride" away from Seattle. Which means it would be good for someone should s/he works an 8-5 M-F job in Seattle. But you don't get hop a train on a Friday night to go hang out in Seattle.

Gig Harbor is right on the water... sided by Puget Sound-- which is about as briney as it can get. If you're talking about going to the coast from either Puyallup or GH, then the minute differences are negligible.

Other places to check out:
Dupont
Steilacoom
University Place
Tacoma (North areas)
Olympia/Lacey/Yelm (but they are south, which means it puts you further away from Seattle by about at least an hour)

[Andy]

The ocean really isn't a big deal around here. There is water everywhere, so people tend to stick to the warmer inland than the breezy, cooler coast. If you choose Gig Harbor, you will be surrounded by water.

Gig Harbor is the nicest area around there, but you have a toll bridge separating you from the bulk of the area's population. It is also on the pricey side for the South Sound. Steilacoom and certain areas within University Place are nice too.

The more affordable nicer areas are in the Olympia/Lacey area.

[Hemlock140]

I have co-workers that commute by train from Puyallup to Seattle, and they are constantly complaining about missing a bus connection and getting late to the train. Of the choices mentioned I would find Lacey to be a great choice. As for water, the ocean is a long way from any of these cities, but then other than the beauty of the coast, the water is so cold on the ocean and Puget Sound that unless you have a boat there's not much you can do for recreation. The lakes and rivers provide better opportunities.

[Sandy Nelson]

I would recommend Steilacoom. It's lose to your work and a quaint and beautiful town just a short drive from Tacoma. Steilacoom is directly on the water, so going to cafes, pubs or rstaurants in town, you will see the water all the time.