If you want the same feel, Eastside would be a good fit.

The Triad

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Where in NC?

There are good areas and bad areas anywhere. But I'd take the worst part of any of those cities over the best parts of Seattle or Everett city limits any day, in terms of safety. They are all incredibly safe (and Seattle, lately, is definitely not).

Most of the Eastside services tech workers, so it's all pretty gentrified. Some good food, but you won't find much nightlife.

I lived in Bothell and it was great, moved to Everett because it was cheaper in rent, right across the street from Silver Lake and I didn’t have any problems I liked Bothell much better but it cost a lot more. I got a bigger apartment for a better price.

Hey friend, your question is perfectly valid and a sensible one. I lived in Redmond for a long time before moving into West Queen Anne to be closer to the corporation I work for. "Boring" is an opinionated word people throw around when referring to the east side (Bellevue, Redmond) but for me, my friends, & partner it was a great place. It's amazing for outdoor activities & 15-30 minutes from Seattle proper - should you want to go in and do whatever

If this is the region you are looking to move to, more power to you. Be sure always to research before hand in regard to housing & economics

Yes. You might even be bored they're so safe

Seattle proper has a lot of property crime and rising violent crime, but the Eastside is wealthy and well run.

No, unfortunately I’m just a bit jaded because I did what I thought was plenty enough research on the place I currently live and learned the hard way that there’s no certainty without researching through every available avenue

I ask, because they’re absurdly safe places. I thought you were trolling us.

No? When people just bring up crime statistics they’re told to ask for actual anecdotes form people who live in a place. Now I’m asking for actual anecdotes from people who live in a place, so naturally I’ll be told to just look at crime statistics. I just want to know local perspectives

Not in Washington State. Olympia's decidedly soft hand approach to crime and knee capping Leo has emboldened criminals everywhere.

North Carolina

Literally everywhere has its trade offs. ~Oct-July is cool and wet. This year has been colder and snowier already than it normally is, and we had a major ice storm that sent the region into a shitshow frenzy. Wrecks all over the place, airport turns to madness (it usually is anyway), mountain passes close but there’s huge pile ups. Seattle and metro has a LOT of hills making navigation really dicey and dangerous. But It does stay green in winters especially since we are the Evergreen State - with so much coniferous growth in our landscape. Also, ~July-Oct is intense sun, heat, drought and wildfire season come fall. 2021 we had a deadly heatwave. Last summer 2022 we broke records for days 90F or over. The region is catching up with new builds but barely half of people have air conditioned homes. All the greenery ends up looking so limp, dull and thirsty, and grass gets burned to a crisp in very dry summers. Get choked out by smoky poor air quality towards the end, like we did for nearly 2 months last Sept-Oct. I “fear” that time of year because the smoke can make you feel like absolute garbage. The Olympic Peninsula, way West region of the state, is a temperate rainforest and stays the greenest. East of the Cascade range in Eastern WA is a completely different climate than Seattle/Puget Sound. That said, I grew up in the Midwest though so not as cold or snowy is appreciated.

Are you kidding?

Where do you live?

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Does it stay that green and lush out there year round? You guys truly live in heaven. Connecticut is a dead, dry, sepia toned nightmare and will be until the end of April :-(

I agree. Would you say for an American middle-class lifestyle a family of 4 in any Western Washington metro area should make $150-250 a year to have the same lifestyle the middle class enjoyed in the early '80s---yearly vacations, sending kids to college, house with bedrooms for everyone, etc.?

Well that's the reality for most Americans. Its plenty good. My bills are paid, I own my cars, still have a bit left for hobbies or vacation. Only downside is more stress from no safety net. Also getting laid off is terrible.

Love the shot.

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I have a general disdain for cities, so bear that in mind. I’m not even a fan of suburbia any more.

I just don’t like Everett. I’ve lived there a few times, totaling about 5-6 years, and 3 of the cars I had in that time were broken into and had things stolen.

Real estate is more expensive than outside city limits (cheaper than Seattle, Lynnwood or Edmonds, sure, but more than, say, Monroe or Arlington) so apartments are about the only option for most people. Not a great option for a large family, such as mine.

Yeah, I’d be close to where I work…but I’m not trading convenience for the space I presently have, where my kids can play in their own backyard or ride their bikes in the road and not have to worry about getting hit by a car.

Cities suck, and I choose rural life to raise my kids in.

It's a built-in situation at this point. We live within 2 miles of Costco, Wal-Mart, Safeway, Fred Meyer. Best Buy, Ikea, etc are all in Oregon. Then again, we don't buy brand-new appliances. Honestly, it doesn't really enter into our decision-making very much. I don't mind paying taxes when I get to live in a functional society.

My husband makes just over $32/hour and it works for us. We bought near ocean shores since it’s cheaper than up north. Any less would be a struggle.