Well, move to Davenport :) Joking! Hey, I'm not saying it's cheap, it's just not like California. For the northern part of the state it seems it is more expensive, unless I heard wrong. It really depends exactly where you are moving. Two towns over from where I live, the prices are way more then where I live....

I have no idea where anyone gets the data that Washington has the 4th highest taxes in the US. What taxes are you looking at? It would vary by property tax, purchases and so many other factors. There is NO state income tax. This retirement group ranks Washinton at 13th:
http://www.retirementliving.com/RLtaxburdens.html

right, redfern- the OP's looking at Bellevue (and has heard WA's MUCHcheaper/less populated than Marin)....which isn't true in Bellevue...at least if you buy a house- but would be probably be true where you or I live....

It may be hard to believe, but much of Bellevue is a lot cheaper than the Bay area and I'm sure that includes Marin County. We have a friend who actually commutes to the Bay area from Bellevue partly because of the cost of housing in the Bay area.

hmmm...I know the wrong people in Bellevue, then....

And that's one heck of a commute:)

karens- Well I think it HELPS to live someplace to be making *accurate* observations about the weather.

In Seattle say the sun is out for 3/4 of the day and then some clouds blow thru, by looking at the newscast it might appear a completely overcast day and does not count for a sunny one statistically.

This year the weather has been absolutely gorgeous for the most part since back early spring all the way thru now. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but it cracks me up because seems I'm always having this "discussion" here on Fodor's while I'm looking out my window IN SEATTLE at a perfectly clear and brightly sunny day, like right now.

Oh and other taxes are high because Washington does not have a state income tax... anyone mentioned that yet? Not.

Our sales tax really isn't noticable (to me) unless I'm buying something big, then you just mentally calculate it to the cost of the item.

yep, suze- I visited Seattle with some friends a while back- They kept complaining about the weather (sunny in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon)- and when I said "actually, this is typical/decent weather"- they looked at me as if I was crazy.

I love Seattle/western WA. Rain/clouds just don't bother me....And when it's clear/sunny in Seattle, it's REALLY clear/sunny!

Now, the snow and ice and desert of Eastern WA, I can live without:)

Yeah, sales tax isn't noticeable- unless you've recently gone shopping in Oregon...

Moosely: Hey, you aren't supposed to let the go to Oregon to shop secret out! :)
No really, I only shop there if there's a specific place I want to go...

With 3 children, I would look closely at college costs in WA for residents. I don’t have any friends in WA, but my out of state friends pay much more for in state tuition than we do in CA.

What secret? :)

Roadless- yes, but CA's cheaper than most states...with more choices, too.

WA state uni's are not bad at all for in-state residents....and all are decent-great schools. CA out of state is ridiculous, and not a member of WUE, either....

Moosely- Funny yesterday I was having lunch at a sidewalk cafe with a friend who is a Seattle native & has been living in the Bay Area for 5 years. It was a perfect sunny day with a bit of a cool breeze. He kept mentioning how much he missed Seattle weather.

mleg- Hey move or don't move (lol!) but do come visit, look around for yourself, don't let the opinions of people who have never even been here weigh in for more than they are worth.

;-)

I had to pay out of state when I moved back to WA and I went to just a community college and I didn't pay too much more. But, for a university it may be a big difference.

suze - I don't live in Seattle and know that summers can be gloriously sunny.

I also know that winters can be gloomy and rainy, and that it's not uncommon to go many, many days without seeing the sun.

When I hear people talk about the "bad" weather in Pacific NW, I don't think anyone's referring to the summers...They are wonderful.

Well I don't mind the winters either, no snow to shovel, plenty of days are clear and crisp with the snow-capped mountains ranges in view on either side of the city. Sure we hit a long stretch of gray days now and then, no argument there.

karens- I'm gonna drop this one now, since you won't, with one last time suggesting that it may be more helpful to comment on weather of places you have actually been or better yet currently live.

You sound like a mover, and have done it before enough times to know what it entails. So you may want to know some tidbits I just read about Washington tax laws.


Be very careful, especially if you have high home (CA) equitity now and want to transpose that equitity to Washington state residence, because from what I read it is one of the highest taxed states in the nation. This article featured that the reason why (with no state income tax) is that many other levels and items are taxed in a different way in Washington State.

For instance, this author stated that the laws right now in 2006 will tax up to and including 17% of the selling price of the home upon the seller when he sells.

This won't be you this time, but you sound like such a mover that I would be very careful of your next move and the "selling" part of Washington's intrastructure.

I think Walla Walla is super and the weather a non-issue. If you are moving for equitity value increases (kind of like house flipping using the 2 year in residence pass on the long term capital gains)than REALLY look into this aspect of taxing before you move.

So to give you an idea:

In CA....

CSU, Berkley:
Instate: $1,744
Out-of-State: $10,204
Room & Board: $5,700
Application Fee: $55.00

Humboldt State:
Tuition + Room (2002-2003)
Instate: $1,891
Out-of-State: $10,351
Room & Board: $6,690
Application Fee: $55.00

UCLA: Tuition + Room (2002-2003)
Instate: $4,225
Out-of-State: $16,604
Room & Board: $9,480
Application Fee: $40.00

UCSD
Tuition + Room (2002-2003)
Instate: $4,493
Out-of-State: $16,872
Room & Board: $8,066
Application Fee: $40.00

In WA....

UW- (which isn't really reasonable for anyone on average)
Tuition + Room (2005-2006)
Instate: $5,103
Out-of-State: $19,400
Room & Board: $7,017
Application Fee: $38.00

WSU
Tuition + Room
Instate: $4,145
Out-of-State: $11,940
Room & Board: $5,882
Application Fee: $35.00

WWU
Tuition + Room (2002-2003)
Instate: $3,702
Out-of-State: $11,901

Eastern:
Tuition + Room (2002-2003)
Instate: $3,357
Out-of-State: $11,634
Room & Board: $5,025
Application Fee: $35.00
Room & Board: $5,648
Application Fee: $35.00

So if your daughters have a preference, mlegs....best to live in whichever state the preferred school is in....

And karens- since when is any place w/o a gloomy winter??? Except parts of CA, hawaii, etc.....

The only thing any one complains about in the summer is the heat:)

No snow in Seattle! No 110 F summers, either!