Washington - It's Tops!
Does it come as any surprise that The Evergreen State would find a home in Money Magazine's Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S.? Well, not to those of us who call Washington home! Coming in at #11 on the Top Twenty was our own Sammamish!
Sammamish was singled out for its amazingly pleasant climate and for its family-friendly community feel. Despite a good size populace of 40,000 residents, there was almost no crime in the most recent year analyzed (2007). There was an incredible statistical ZERO for number of personal crimes committed per one thousand citizens. Personal crimes would include burglaries and assault. And for every one thousand residents, there was 1.3 property crimes! That means various petty crimes like vandalism or criminal mischief, misdeeds typically committed by teens. And there are also great public schools and a high level of education among the populace. Way to go, Sammamish! But if you think the list ends there, you've got another thing coming.
Two Top Five Cities
Coming in at numbers four and five on Forbes Magazine "Best Places" are Yakima and Spokane, respectively. They were singled out in a section called "Safest Places." While Sammamish is clearly virtually crime-free, Yakima and Spokane boast relatively low crime rates AND low risk factors for other things like natural disasters.
Ah, to Be Single in Seattle
Also found in Forbes Magazine's "best Places" list is a section on great places to live if you are single. Number five on that list? Our own Seattle! Long known to have great music and cultural scenes, singles are found in great numbers here. Along with a high concentration of single adults, there is also a great concentration of opportunities for them to meet one another there. Lots of singles, great restaurants, and clubs equals many wonderful opportunities to connect.
Where to Begin... Again
Sometimes people just need the chance to start fresh, to begin again. Maybe a career path has veered off or come to an end. Maybe a relationship has ended badly and the sights and sounds of that setting are an unwelcome reminder. Or maybe the cold winters where an elderly person lives are no longer tolerable and a better place to retire is desired. Whatever the reason someone might want to relocate and start over, AARP Magazine took a survey which included several factors like educational opportunities, health care, public transit, and overall affordability. They concluded that Bellingham is the #2 place in the whole country to "reinvent yourself."
So, whatever it is that you are into, Washington might just be a terrific place to relocate to. And if you find yourself in a position to put down roots here - mortgage loan and all - we think you'll discover that Washington will be tops on your list too.
