Being single, is yet one more reason to hold out for Seattle ;-)

Good luck with the job seach!

You can rent a nice apartment for well under $2000/month in the Seattle neighborhoods you mention. My friends and I either own condos or rent 1 bedrooms on Capitol Hill, no one pays that much.

That's very good news! If the Seattle job works out, I would be working near Lake Washington and would have to take 520. I'm thinking if that happens, that Capitol Hill and Fremont are going to be the most convenient neighborhoods for that job (which is great since they're my 2 favorite). If I could live within walking distance to Elysian or Brouwer's, I would be very happy!

So would you actually be working on the eastside? Try 520 at rush hour before deciding - seriously. The "reverse commute" is worse than the opposite, I believe; that is, more people take 520 out of the city in the morning and into it at night. That is probably because Microsoft is on the eastside, along 520. It took me 45 minutes to go from the exit ramp at 405 to the 520 bridge towards Seattle at 5:30 PM in June. That is a distance of maybe one mile....Unless you can work off-hours, think twice on this one. We have a friend who just moved here for Microsoft and wanted to live in Seattle but had temporary housing in Bellevue. He tried to get into the city at rush hour on 520 a few times and they have decided to look for housing on the eastside.

That said, we live in Bellevue and it took me 20 minutes to get to the Seattle Center (Space Needle) at 7:30 PM last night, and it takes me 15 minutes to get to Pike Place when it is not rush hour (on I-90). We are close to Seattle for entertainment, but rush hour is another story.

beanweb, if the Tacoma job is with the firm that I think you're referring to (fountains outside? Chihuly pieces in the lobby?), then that is a fantastic firm, and a class act. I'd have killed for a job there.

Definitely listen to what Orcas said. What you describe is a different picture than actually living and working in Seattle.

I think I know who 321go is referring to. That would be tough to pass up if that is the case.

Capitol Hill is MUCH easier to use 520 than from Fremont. Probably at least a good 20 mins. shorter commute.

I haven't been to the place in Tacoma yet, so I'm not sure about the fountains or the lobby...but I'm guessing you know who it is. Clearly that would factor into the decision, as it sounds like an amazing company to work for.

Thanks for the tip on Fremont vs Capitol Hill should I end up on the East Side. At this point, I'm just hoping to end up in WA or I will have wasted everyone's time! :)

I don't have much more to add, other than to defend Tacoma. Yes, she was a disheveled mess years ago, but the city has made considerable improvements. They've added the condo incentive (no property taxes for 10 year), so the downtown area is being revitalized for residents. Hip, urban condos, more shops, revamped museums, light rail...

However, for the "walking distance to a great beer place, some funky shops, and good restaurant selection," Seattle is still the place to be. Tacoma still aspires to that lifestyle, and may well achieve it in the future, but as it is now, Tacoma is more of a place people go to work, and then leave to go home. (Yes, I am one of them.)

If you decide the Tacoma job is The One, I concur that the North End would be your best match (particularly Old Town and the Proctor District), and for your price range you might get a peekaboo view of Puget Sound. University Place is inconveniently located - if you plan on traveling the I-5 corridor to Seattle (Hwy 16 can still be a nightmare).

My last suggestion is... Why not Olympia? It would be a 30-40 minute commute to downtown Tacoma. Homes are even more affordable than Tacoma/Pierce County, and there's a wonderful "small town" feel without it actually being a "small town." It's dog friendly, too -- lots of parks.

Good luck with whatever you decide, but as others have said, if your job is on the Eastside, the commute from Seattle is a nightmare. You might be better off in downtown Kirkland, which is nice and on the Eastside.

I would not call it a "nightmare". I drove from Capitol Hill to both Carillon Point in Kirkland, and downtown Bellevue (company moved) for over 10 years. I could cut thru on surface streets to the last on-ramp to 520, over the bridge, then in a back way. It was all of 8 miles door to door. It normally took about 20 mins.

Sure if someone cracks up on the bridge it makes a mess, as there are only 2 lanes each way.

I would call it more of a slightly bad dream, not a nightmare -lol!

For me I would never send a single person to live on the Eastside instead of in Seattle proper for social reasons.

Suze - I hope I get the job and need shortcut directions from you. ;-)

I'll keep you all posted...I'll be starting second rounds next week! If neither of these pan out, though, I'll keep trying.

Suze,
Good point re. single person on Eastside. Yes, a single person would be better off in Seattle--I forget...I'm not single!

No problem. I am (single) and living in the suburbs would feel like the kiss of death -lol!

Good luck to beanweb24, & I'll happily spill my driving shortcuts to Bellevue from Capitol Hill.

I don't really think it's fair to assume that someone will like (or dislike) something based on age and/or marital status. Personality, interests, and hobbies are better much better barometers.

I'm young(30), single, live on the Eastside, and I'm quite happy. I have plenty of friends and things to do. I wouldn't be happy living in an urban downtown, but that's me. Different strokes and all that. :)

Having lived in Tacoma and played in Seattle, I would definitely check out the North End of Tacoma (especially if it's close to your job). It's a nice area and you can always go and play in Seattle on the weekends! :)

I wasn't so much assuming, but in the OP she specifically stated how much she loved Capitol Hill and Fremont. I was taking my clues, at least partly, off that.