All Countries
Ariana Edwards
jobs
Starting a business in Bothell?
I'm a 44-year-old software engineer and What do you all think?
11 upvotes
20 Replies
Owen Bennett
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from San Francisco about 15 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from San Francisco about 15 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Addison Sanchez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 9 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 9 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
34 upvotes
Aaliyah Jimenez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
30 upvotes
Riley Robinson
exactly what I was thinking
30 upvotes
Patrick R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 2 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 2 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
23 upvotes
Danielle T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely improving and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely improving and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
23 upvotes
Paul W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 6 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 6 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
22 upvotes
Wesley Taylor
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Raleigh it's surprisingly good.
21 upvotes
Zoe Y.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 34, moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Sunset and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The dating scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Francisco, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a contractor, 34, moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Sunset and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The dating scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Francisco, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
15 upvotes
Kayden Thomas
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 11 years. Moved from Phoenix for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are decent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited shopping options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 11 years. Moved from Phoenix for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are decent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited shopping options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
Violet Martinez
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Uptown area are improving. Kids love it here.
12 upvotes
Sadie Sanders
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
12 upvotes
Nolan
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The walkability scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Happy to answer more specific questions..
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The walkability scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Victoria Green
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much pricey but now it's decent.
9 upvotes
Pamela S.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 12 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 12 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
Jacob S.
I've lived in West for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- The healthcare scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Hope this helps!.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- The healthcare scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
Levi Sanchez
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
3 upvotes
Frank M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in education. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in education. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
3 upvotes
Sophia Gutierrez
I'm a teacher and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
1 upvotes
Chloe Long
Moved here from Portland about 4 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to safety but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
0 upvotes