Good places to live in Seattle for people in their 20s?
Looking for a little advice here that's not totally real estate-related. My girlfriend and I are in our 20s and looking for a good part of town to live in. Right now she's in school (online, plans on transferring to UW in a year) and I work in Auburn, and we both live near Maple Valley Hwy and 140th Way to the east of 405 in Renton.
It's an ok place, but we're both a little bored there. I looked into what there is to do closer to work in Auburn and didn't find much. I moved from south Texas last year and don't really know the area very well. Where are there more young people and more to do in the city? We're really not into clubs, more somewhere to just go and hang out and where we are now is really lacking in that sort of thing. I've heard a few people say the north side of Seattle or the Bellevue area might be a better place to be? Any suggested zip codes or areas to go check out? I'm a car guy and can really use a place with a garage so maybe a house (trying not to get into rent vs buy debate) might be a decent match. I guess a problem is that work is in Auburn, but the company does have other sites in the area - I know that Everett could be an option someday and there are vanpools organized at work that go all over the place so an ugly commute might not always be bad.
Thanks for the advice!
It's an ok place, but we're both a little bored there. I looked into what there is to do closer to work in Auburn and didn't find much. I moved from south Texas last year and don't really know the area very well. Where are there more young people and more to do in the city? We're really not into clubs, more somewhere to just go and hang out and where we are now is really lacking in that sort of thing. I've heard a few people say the north side of Seattle or the Bellevue area might be a better place to be? Any suggested zip codes or areas to go check out? I'm a car guy and can really use a place with a garage so maybe a house (trying not to get into rent vs buy debate) might be a decent match. I guess a problem is that work is in Auburn, but the company does have other sites in the area - I know that Everett could be an option someday and there are vanpools organized at work that go all over the place so an ugly commute might not always be bad.
Thanks for the advice!
Comments
Or you can just move to Beltown, that's where the party's at.
Two things the Eastside's got going for it is generally clean & unlocked bathrooms, and easier & free parking.
Maybe if I am single, I would enjoy living in Seattle better.
Maybe not:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/apa/550328524.html
Bellevue is crap when it comes to city culture for 20-somethings. No reputable (even starving) bands play there. I guess if you like 80's covers played by 40 year olds, it's cool. Yikes.
Bellevue has great bus line to UW as well, 271 baby! Anyhow, you can't top Bellevue if you got the dough.
Capitol Hill. Belltown. Fremont. Those are your top three choices. Others would be Wallingford, the U-District.
Unless you've got a family and some need for "safety", the eastside is the suburbs. If you move to the eastside, you'll find rather quickly that you'd probably much rather spend your time in Seattle proper.
Oh, and did I mention that Bellevue sucks?
So, scuba steve, what are your hobbies and general activities? Do you like to go and see bands? Do you like grungy dive bars, or do you prefer newer and "cleaner" establishments. If and when you pass through Capitol Hill, does it make you feel nervous and wonder if you'll step on a syringe, or do you like the urban-ness of it all and relish the thought of all the funky bars and little restaurants?
On the weekends do you find yourself hanging out in town, or always driving along I90 to the mountains? Is living in an apartment OK, or is living in a house the way you'd like to go? Do you need a lot of space around you, or do you like being able to step out of your apartment/house and walking to a local coffee shop on a Sunday morning?
There are many in-city neighborhoods and I'm sure that many people on this forum could compile a list of places for you to check out, but being able to narrow down would be helpful. You need to check out these places yourself, as a lot of people have very strong opinions about places they've never been to.
You'll find that a lot of people in Seattle think the Eastside is boring and "safe" and for familes, and a lot of people on the Eastside thing Seattle is too noisy, dirty and unsafe. Each to their own...
Wow, lots more answers than I expected to see. Thanks, everyone!
To answer a few questions, I live in Renton right now actually. Technically I guess... it's near the eastern edge off Maple Valley Hwy (169). I do go to the Fred Meyers on Rainier Ave on occasion. Lots of panhandlers by the door. It's not like the Wal Mart closer to 405; I think that place is pretty scary and I used to spend lots of time in rougher parts of Monterrey, Mexico.
What do I like to do - spending time working on the car I'm restoring is one thing... there's the need for a garage. I owned a 2 car house back in Texas and that was great because both cars could live indoors. I get my outdoor fix on weekdays by biking the Interurban Trail back from Auburn to the Tukwila park and ride (catch the train in the morning, bike back to the car), so I'm more thinking in terms of places where there's somewhere to hang out in the evening where there might be other young people around. I'm done going to clubs and seedy bars, and she prefers the cleaner type places but I did have a great time at a concert over at El Corazon recently.
I'd really like to find a house (rent, own, whatever. depends on the market). If I can do that I can bring my dog who lives with my parents right now over. He's about 35lbs and wouldn't do well in an apartment because he likes to run. That, plus the garage thing and between the two of us we're looking at 3 cars. We like walking around outside when it's nice out and the dog is great on a leash; parks are a plus.
Haven't been to Capitol Hill yet so I can't comment but we were going to go north of downtown sometime Saturday to check that area out along with a couple of other areas someone from work recommended. I haven't really been too far off the freeway except for anything outside of the Auburn - Renton - Redmond areas because it's way off my path from work to home and anywhere else I go. I would like to move somewhere safe enough so that my car and place will still be intact where I left it when I come back.
Thanks again for all the help!
It's a quieter area, but all the good Capitol Hill stuff is very accessible -- Volunteer Park, the restaurants, theatres, bars, library, grocery stores.
ps I'm also in my 20's and live in the Pike/Pine area of Capitol Hill, but I'm the type who enjoys the nightlife, the density, the diversity, the 'urbanness', and being able to walk to everything.
You're welcome!
I'm sure I'll miss some places out, but you might want to check out:
-Greenlake
-Greenwood/Phinney Ridge
-Wallingford
-East/North Capitol Hill (15th Ave is nice - check that out, but not cheap)
-Madison Park/Madrona
-Bellevue
Maybe head out to these places on a Saturday evening and see what's there. Good luck!