Submitted by check_my_cv t3_zr97p8 in Washington
I grew up on Whidbey Island and currently live on the east coast but am considering moving back west. My wife works in tech and her office would be in Bellevue but I don’t know what it would be like compared to where I grew up.
Probably in ways that are more articulated 😐
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I’m guessing the Whidby you grew up on was pretty homogenous and you might find that Bellevue is very diverse
There are pockets of the Bellevue-ish area that are more quiet & lovely. Downtown or nearby is a smaller newer Seattle complete with high rises. I moved here in 2012 & it’s changed vastly in 10 years.
Just live in Kirkland. Way more trees, and the commute is only like 12 minutes to Bellevue.
Yeah downtown is unbelievable now
Especially if you like traffic, you’ll be in heaven.
When did you move away?
Bellevue is basically the same type of place it was 30 years ago (suburb for Microsoft employees etc) but with more people now.
I moved away about 5 years ago
Kirkland has a nice little downtown area with some personality. I didn’t realize that until I was there for the day a few years ago.
I currently live on Whidbey (south end) and worked for many years in Bellevue. They are about as opposite as you can get as far as Western Washington communities go. Specifically, Bellevue is far more dense and consistently affluent than Whidbey. It also has far more amenities. On the other hand, Whidbey is far more relaxed, spread out, and much more socio-economically diverse.
Do you like the South End more than Bellevue? I like the restaurant/store/activity availability that a place like Langley has but I’m not opposed to a more urban environment. I’m currently living downtown in an NC city so I’ve had some time in an urban setting since leaving Wa
I’m a transplant into Bellevue for a few years now and didn’t know how it look like before. I move from Seattle to Bellevue and actually liked it a lot.
No longer getting parking tickets since parking is usually free. Quiet and peaceful. Feels safer too for a female.
Rent is not cheap but it’s a nice place to live in.
Bellevue sucks. Whidbey rules. (Source: I’ve lived in both places)
I don’t really care for the vibe in Bellevue these days. Everything is very upscale, and I like things a little grittier and relaxed. So yeah, I like Whidbey better than Bellevue, but that’s very much a personal thing.
We moved to Whidbey from Seattle almost 7 years ago. My wife and I miss the city sometimes, but not nearly enough to move back, and our kids LOVE it here.
It really comes down to what you’re looking for and the trade offs you’re willing to make.
I’m sorry. Bellevue is absolutely not the same place it was 30 years ago.
Back then it was a quiet though still affluent suburb with horse farms and no high rises. Today, it’s a full city unto itself with high density and a rapidly expanding commercial core.
What do your kids love about Whidbey? The wife and I are looking in the area and she prefers Whidbey while I’m partial to sequim. We’ve got 3 young ones who love nature and outdoor activities.
Their commercial core died the day the Warner Bros store closed.
Someone should mention cost of living. A waterfront home on whidbey is the price of a modest home in Bellevue.
I live in Seattle and don’t go to Bellevue for any reason whatsoever. Sometimes we boat to Kirkland because it’s alright
It's a mixed bag. Quite busy in many areas and expensive. Lots of green belts, though. Pretty much night and day comparisons really.
Where are you looking on Whidbey? It's a big island (as I'm sure you know) with a lot of local variation.
We were fortunate to sell in Seattle when that market was hot but Whidbey wasn’t, so we were able to afford some acres and a big cozy, quirky house.
Kids have spent the last two days sledding in our pasture and building snow forts. We have a trail around our property that also connects to our neighbors, where my son’s friend lives. My in-laws live nearby. It’s a good life.
I do wonder how they’ll feel about it when they’re teens though. There isn’t much to do on evenings/weekends, at least compared to a city, or college town, or really anywhere else.
Things you need to not mind to live here: everything closing at like 7pm, power outages, expensive groceries, limited amenities, limited services, limited social circles, and political diversity.
Real estate 100%. But Whidbey isn’t cheap to live on. Groceries and services are expensive.
Great information thank you!
You’re welcome!
A year ago, when deciding between buying a home in Bellevue and Whidbey, I posed a similar query to a real estate agent. I'll try to convey what George Moorhead said at the time.
Although Bellevue has many advantages, such as a strong economy, low crime rates, and a wide range of housing options, it is a relatively expensive place to live.
On the other hand, Whidbey Island has many advantages, such as a beautiful landscape, a warm climate, and a strong community, and it is less expensive to live in than Bellevue.
It is ultimately up to the individual to decide which one to live in. Bellevue is an excellent option if you want a large community with many services. But if you are looking for a quieter community with a more natural feel, Whidbey is a great option.
trains_and_rain t1_j12bzpy wrote
How does an apple compare to an orange?