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Dylan Gutierrez
best-worst
Worst things about Bothell nobody talks about
It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Worth the trade-offs?
3 upvotes
24 Replies
Mackenzie F.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 29, moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Uptown and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Baltimore, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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 sales manager, 29, moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Uptown and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Baltimore, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
36 upvotes
Isaac
hmm interesting perspective
35 upvotes
Kayden Wright
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
33 upvotes
Robert Gray
big facts right here
31 upvotes
Deborah W.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Greenfield for 6 years. Moved from Tampa for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
marketing is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are surprisingly good. 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 entertainment options. Far from beaches/mountains. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Greenfield for 6 years. Moved from Tampa for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
marketing is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are surprisingly good. 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 entertainment options. Far from beaches/mountains. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
27 upvotes
nyc_evelyn
following this thread
25 upvotes
Evan G.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely average and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited shopping 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 food scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely average and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Limited shopping 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.
25 upvotes
Walter R.
thanks for sharing
24 upvotes
Brooks Wright
this is the way
23 upvotes
Leonardo Diaz
Saving this thread
23 upvotes
Melanie Walker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 5 years. Moved from Seattle for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is decent - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited high-paying job options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in West for 5 years. Moved from Seattle for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is decent - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited high-paying job options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Bryan E.
hard disagree but ok
18 upvotes
Kaylee Evans
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Jayden Taylor
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
15 upvotes
Skylar Gray
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Sunset area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
14 upvotes
Leah Evans
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Delilah Baker
spot on
12 upvotes
Aaron Lewis
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
11 upvotes
Andrew M.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
tampamama2021
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
11 upvotes
Easton L.
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The public transit scene is decent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The public transit scene is decent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
Mia Martinez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
7 upvotes
Aurora Jones
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely tough and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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 job market, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely tough and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
4 upvotes
Aurora N.
it depends on the neighborhood
3 upvotes