Everett or Tacoma? Possibly Edmonds..... Pros and Cons (Seattle, Shoreline: job market, live in)

[mamainfl]

For the first year, we are thinking of one of these areas. Any benefits to one over the other?



Areas with character (some historic charm)

Walkable

Employment opportunities for my young adults

Easy access to Seattle proper

No Drug areas

Any areas to avoid in these cities? They each have a downtown don't they? Your perspective will be appreciated.

[tobester]

Neither has 'easy access to Seattle proper' - think one hour on a good day.

[Steve Bowen]

Of the three, Edmonds fits your criteria the best. It's also the best from a transit standpoint as its closest to Seattle and the Sounder commuter rail line runs from there to downtown Seattle at rush hour on weekdays. It's about a 35 minute ride. The Sounder runs from Tacoma to Seattle as well, but it takes a full hour because it's a greater distance.

[RotseCherut]

Edmonds seems real nice to me... Tacoma is kind of gritty and grimey, unless you live in the North part of Tacoma near the Sound. Tacoma and Everett have their share of drug problems and crime.

Have you considered anything on the Eastside, like Kirkland? If you would consider Edmonds then Kirkland should be on your radar screen too.

[CrazyDonkey]

Tacoma. Stadium, North End, and Downtown areas very walkable. Housing is affordable. For relatively easy access to Seattle, drive, bus, or take light rail to the Tacoma Dome Station and take Sounder commuter rail. Washington's second largest city, so has a sizable job market.

[GatsbyGatz]

I live in Capitol Hill in Seattle, but I recently visited Downtown Tacoma and I have to say I really like Tacoma. It has good urban roots and some pretty cool bars/restaurants. I think Downtown has some enormous potential, so I would suggest anyone investing in Tacoma's future.

[RotseCherut]

Originally Posted by GatsbyGatz

I live in Capitol Hill in Seattle, but I recently visited Downtown Tacoma and I have to say I really like Tacoma. It has good urban roots and some pretty cool bars/restaurants. I think Downtown has some enormous potential, so I would suggest anyone investing in Tacoma's future.

Tacoma does have a nice looking downtown. However, be careful about Tacoma, it is a lot grittier than your eyes will perceive at first glance. Also, the strip of bars on 6th Avenue can get pretty rowdy and not always attract the most respectable types of people. I found that I liked Seattle's bars more, even if some were more uppity. A lot of the bars in Tacoma just have a more sketchy and dodgy energy to them.

[DarkSideOfBlack]

Try Shoreline. Practically a Seattle suburb, and right down 5 from Edmonds.