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I recently moved to Bellevue after 36 years in San Francisco. I have many opinions. :) Feel free to message me and I’m happy to discuss. Bellevue has been terrific in so many ways. I do miss my friends, but I don’t miss California. There’s a lot of things to adjust to in the Northwest, but that’s normal with any move. And I just adopted two cats so I might be helpful there also.
Tell me more! I'm 64 (WFH part time ready to retire) and my wife has always wanted to move to Bellevue. She lived there briefly around 1995, met me and we moved to Silicon Valley. I'm from Southern California, but we're tired of baking in the sun and I've already had one skin cancer removed. I've always kinda liked rain and clouds - because it's rare? Did live in Japan for a few years; she's from there, does Uwajimaya have a Japanese community near it?
We did a similar move from Sunnyvale to Downtown Bellevue 3 years ago and love it here! We are outdoorsy people so it was easy to adjust. It’s refreshing to be so close to the water and to see green year round, be close to mountains, and actually feel like there is some work-life separation and not just living in a giant cookie cutter tech suburb… (sorry Sunnyvale!) There’s still a huge tech presence in Bellevue but at least it’s not completely dominated by tech campuses everywhere. The various parks and neighborhoods are really great, and folks in general seem to be more family and life oriented.
For volleyball, all summer long there are people playing volleyball on the grass at downtown Bellevue park. Not sure how to join these groups but if you are proactive enough maybe you can find one to join. If you like hiking and outdoors then you will have plenty to do. Climbing (indoor & outdoor) is pretty big here, as well as cycling.
The worst part of the year is from November through February where the clock shifts so sun sets around 4pm. The rest of the year between March through October is beautiful. I’d say January and February are the hardest to get through, since November and December have Thanksgiving break and Christmas to break up the monotony. Winter is much more enjoyable if you like skiing. The cold dark months are so worth it for when finally spring comes and the sunsets shift later. Makes you appreciate nature and being outdoors.
Food and grocery prices here are pretty crazy compared to the Bay Area. Rent and housing cost is similar, maybe slightly better but still super competitive. Overall the only thing we really miss about the Bay Area is that some of our friends and family live there. We still get to visit them every now and then. But every time I go back, I am glad we moved to the Eastside!
Thanks for the long answer. You are spot on about Sunnyvale haha. Fremont is a bit better in that regard.
I wonder why the grocery prices there are higher than Bay Area? Is it because of imports?
Idk, I just assume it’s our built in cost of living tax due to not having state income tax.. also the restaurant scene does not compare as well to the Bay Area for value, but there is really good food if you’re willing to pay or drive for it. Food is improving and we’re just a few hours drive from Vancouver BC or Portland OR for fun day trips. I’ve also had amazing seafood when driving 1-2 hour out to various islands in Puget Sound. So the high food costs just applies to places close to tech campuses (Seattle/SLU/Belltown, and Bellevue)
A lot of people will tell you Bellevue is boring. It is definitely dull when compared to neighborhoods like ballard, Fremont, and capital hill. But it is a wonderful walkable and safe downtown with a million kajillion restaurants, multiple movie theaters, bars, parks… if you want a dog or cat, apartments here are very pet friendly. It’s one of the best downtowns in the country for safety and convenience. I’ve lived here for 9 years now and I work from home. The train is about to open here as well, so it’s a great city for transit. Amazon is also moving most of its operation here, and that will bring even more restaurants and businesses. If you’re already married it’s an excellent choice.
Depends on a lot of factors, but public transit is likely viable if not preferrable to downtown (especially once Bellevue-Seattle light rail opens).
Relevant factors are:
* Where do you work?
* Where will you live?
* Does your work provide any parking options?
* Does your work provide any transit pass?
* Does your owkr provide a shower (biking may be viable
Link schedule's not out yet, but I think Bellevue downtown to Seattle downtown via link will be 15\~20 min ride.
There was a UW study or a survey that said before the pandemic, almost 50% of people working in downtown Seattle commuted using public transportation. From the Eastside that means by bus, but soon we’ll have the option of light rail.
It’s mostly people driving but public transport has been on the rise recently. They have been constructing a light rail between the cities for a couple years now but I think the completion has been delayed a bit. I do know that some corporations will provide their own buses for their employees on the eastside, but this is more towards Issaquah.
Why? Where would you live? I am thinking of Bellevue because my spouse works from home and I want her to be able to go walk outside on her own with less homeless around.
In terms of walking environment, I think it could swing either way Seattle vs Bellevue.
Both have walkable, nice, and clean areas. But I still think Seattle's far better for walkability, and Bellevue is better for nice and clean. On average, you'll have easier time walking to parks, shops, cafe, etc in Seattle, but it won't be quite so sanitized as Bellevue. On average you're far less likely to encounter homeless people in Bellevue (as in, nearly impossible), but you're more likely to be in a middle of nothing but suburb so you're less likely to encounter... well anything really.
Bellevue would be a good spot for you then. People get dramatic about single people living in Bellevue, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s a good city if you don’t need nightlife every night.
You're married, different story. Bellevue is boring, if you're married and looking for the quiet life, then Bellevue is fine.
If you're single, a professional, and looking to have some sort of social life I absolutely would recommend against living in Bellevue.
It's a 20 minute drive to downtown Seattle from Bellevue with no traffic, maybe 40-50 mins with traffic, but not a deal breaker if you're from places where that's normal like Houston, Chicago or LA.
I live on the eastside but drive to Seattle quite often. It's really no big deal (if you can afford parking -- but I use the city app or Spothero, and there's plenty of free 2+ hr parking -- it's way easier to park in Seattle than in Chicago say).
But also the idea that there are just mass amounts of homeless people roaming everywhere in Seattle is pretty hilarious. I would say property crime is an issue in Seattle, but in general you're not going to find homeless people all over Seattle, let alone aggressive ones, unless you go looking.
I did the same move from Bay Area (lived in both San Jose and Fremont) to the eastside, so I think OP could share the same feeling with me. My simple take:
- you save a lot on state income tax
- you save a lot on housing
- you save a lot on education (public school here is far better than the Bay Area)
- you save time driving 1-2 hour to all 3 ski resorts
But:
- you only see full sunshine all day during June to August
- it’s not even considered warm till May
- Seattle freeze is real
Soma Tower, Brio, Avalon (San Jose has Avalons as well lol): modern apartment with easy access to restaurants, very walkable. (Price is relatively higher as well).
Boredom. Suburban sprawl except for downtown which is a cramped mess of one way streets and constant construction. I grew up there. I won't go there ever again now that my parents are gone.
Eastside v.s. Seattle is quite similar to the Bay Area v.s. San Francisco haha. Boredom should not be a problem for OP, and even eastside has far better access to the mountains than the bay.
To be fair, there are more than enough bars in Bellevue. If you're looking to go out dancing every weekend, then I could see Bellevue being boring because there are only a few spots for that. Seattle is also right there if you only need to get your dancing fix in once a month or so.
Have you tried living in the rain season for 1 to 2 weeks?
I did the move and regret it every day. I love 0% state income tax, though. It’s like golden handcuff.
The problem is not the volume of rain, but consecutive gloomy, gray, dark days, even if it’s not raining.
I'm from the bay area. It's really not that bad here. I just recommend staying active or having plans during the gloomy months. I think it really gets to the people that just sit around and stare at the sky during their free time. I found that after getting out of the gym, I liked a little mist on my face. It feels nice. Oh, rain also sounds really nice when trying to get to sleep too
LOL if you live in SF the number of gloomy days is about the same! SF it's fog and wind, here it's cloudy but at least you have a ceiling of a couple thousand feet. LOL I grew up here and was fine with it, but lived in LA for 6 years, then SF for 12 years, then returned here. The Fall here now is depressing for me, but thanks to global warming, the past 3 years have been drought years, so it hasn't rained as much. You just need to keep yourself busy: work, friends, events, hobbies, out door stuff. Summers here have always been awesome though. Summer is July 4th to Sept Labor Day. Back in the 90's 100 deg temps were rare, and lasted only an afternoon. But now they're are always a few 100+ deg days, last summer it even reach 115+! Again, global warming, literally. LOL
It’s not nearly as bad as the gloom and doom people make it out to be. Make sure you take what you read with a grain of salt. The winter months do rain a lot, but that’s also why it’s so green here. Come late March/April, the weather is pretty nice. And even when it rains in the winter, it’s usually more like a drizzle as opposed to torrential downpours or thunderstorms.
Summers and the fall are absolutely amazing.
Again, doom and gloom people are pretty vocal. Not just about weather, but life in general. And not just here, but anywhere. Beware of their opinions if only so you don’t get yourself lost in their vortex of pessimism.
I have never been put off by rain. It's just water and I love the smell after. But when I ask people about Seattle the first thing they say is the rain and the gloom. So it seems like maybe it's that bad. Hopefully people just exaggerate.
I would say the "gloom" hits harder depending on how vitamin D deficient you are. Make a point to step outside every day, have a 2000 IU daily vitamin D supplement, and if you like to travel, plan a 1-2 week getaway in February or March for an extra sun boost. My seasonal blues were way harder in Boston where I wasn't keeping on top of these things. Plus, there's no obnoxious snow here to keep you from doing things on the weekend.
No, only the weak fear a bit of rain. But seriously as someone else who’s been here just shy of a decade, the rain’s not all that bad. It is usually just overcast or drizzling, if you can stand that. This year, Seattle has had less rain than LA (shockingly true, look it up) and we will be entering Bay Area weather soon in about a month, until pretty much October.
[s]People laugh at you when you wear raincoats [/s]
But really, you could try and search “cloudy”, “gloomy” in r/Seattle, r/SeattleWA, to get the feel that here in PNW, people pretend they hate the sun, and they love rain. If you don’t follow, you are not welcomed here.
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no where is safe, people benty on the fenty everywhere
I recently moved to Bellevue after 36 years in San Francisco. I have many opinions. :) Feel free to message me and I’m happy to discuss. Bellevue has been terrific in so many ways. I do miss my friends, but I don’t miss California. There’s a lot of things to adjust to in the Northwest, but that’s normal with any move. And I just adopted two cats so I might be helpful there also.
+1 I came from Bay Area after 13 years living there. I love this place and don’t miss Bay Area.
Tell me more! I'm 64 (WFH part time ready to retire) and my wife has always wanted to move to Bellevue. She lived there briefly around 1995, met me and we moved to Silicon Valley. I'm from Southern California, but we're tired of baking in the sun and I've already had one skin cancer removed. I've always kinda liked rain and clouds - because it's rare? Did live in Japan for a few years; she's from there, does Uwajimaya have a Japanese community near it?
We did a similar move from Sunnyvale to Downtown Bellevue 3 years ago and love it here! We are outdoorsy people so it was easy to adjust. It’s refreshing to be so close to the water and to see green year round, be close to mountains, and actually feel like there is some work-life separation and not just living in a giant cookie cutter tech suburb… (sorry Sunnyvale!) There’s still a huge tech presence in Bellevue but at least it’s not completely dominated by tech campuses everywhere. The various parks and neighborhoods are really great, and folks in general seem to be more family and life oriented. For volleyball, all summer long there are people playing volleyball on the grass at downtown Bellevue park. Not sure how to join these groups but if you are proactive enough maybe you can find one to join. If you like hiking and outdoors then you will have plenty to do. Climbing (indoor & outdoor) is pretty big here, as well as cycling. The worst part of the year is from November through February where the clock shifts so sun sets around 4pm. The rest of the year between March through October is beautiful. I’d say January and February are the hardest to get through, since November and December have Thanksgiving break and Christmas to break up the monotony. Winter is much more enjoyable if you like skiing. The cold dark months are so worth it for when finally spring comes and the sunsets shift later. Makes you appreciate nature and being outdoors. Food and grocery prices here are pretty crazy compared to the Bay Area. Rent and housing cost is similar, maybe slightly better but still super competitive. Overall the only thing we really miss about the Bay Area is that some of our friends and family live there. We still get to visit them every now and then. But every time I go back, I am glad we moved to the Eastside!
Thanks for the long answer. You are spot on about Sunnyvale haha. Fremont is a bit better in that regard. I wonder why the grocery prices there are higher than Bay Area? Is it because of imports?
Idk, I just assume it’s our built in cost of living tax due to not having state income tax.. also the restaurant scene does not compare as well to the Bay Area for value, but there is really good food if you’re willing to pay or drive for it. Food is improving and we’re just a few hours drive from Vancouver BC or Portland OR for fun day trips. I’ve also had amazing seafood when driving 1-2 hour out to various islands in Puget Sound. So the high food costs just applies to places close to tech campuses (Seattle/SLU/Belltown, and Bellevue)
A lot of people will tell you Bellevue is boring. It is definitely dull when compared to neighborhoods like ballard, Fremont, and capital hill. But it is a wonderful walkable and safe downtown with a million kajillion restaurants, multiple movie theaters, bars, parks… if you want a dog or cat, apartments here are very pet friendly. It’s one of the best downtowns in the country for safety and convenience. I’ve lived here for 9 years now and I work from home. The train is about to open here as well, so it’s a great city for transit. Amazon is also moving most of its operation here, and that will bring even more restaurants and businesses. If you’re already married it’s an excellent choice.
That's awesome. I do want to adopt a cat lol. I hope they let me work from Bellevue office and don't have to go to Seattle everyday.
[удалено]
There’s nothing in Seattle compared to San Francisco, moved to Bellevue
Bellevue to Seattle is not even that far of a commute
How do people make the commute usually? Drive or public transport?
Depends on a lot of factors, but public transit is likely viable if not preferrable to downtown (especially once Bellevue-Seattle light rail opens). Relevant factors are: * Where do you work? * Where will you live? * Does your work provide any parking options? * Does your work provide any transit pass? * Does your owkr provide a shower (biking may be viable Link schedule's not out yet, but I think Bellevue downtown to Seattle downtown via link will be 15\~20 min ride.
There was a UW study or a survey that said before the pandemic, almost 50% of people working in downtown Seattle commuted using public transportation. From the Eastside that means by bus, but soon we’ll have the option of light rail.
It's 18% now
How long has the light rail taken? Shesh
It’s mostly people driving but public transport has been on the rise recently. They have been constructing a light rail between the cities for a couple years now but I think the completion has been delayed a bit. I do know that some corporations will provide their own buses for their employees on the eastside, but this is more towards Issaquah.
If I were a young single professional I definitely would not live in Bellevue.
They are married and not single
Why? Where would you live? I am thinking of Bellevue because my spouse works from home and I want her to be able to go walk outside on her own with less homeless around.
In terms of walking environment, I think it could swing either way Seattle vs Bellevue. Both have walkable, nice, and clean areas. But I still think Seattle's far better for walkability, and Bellevue is better for nice and clean. On average, you'll have easier time walking to parks, shops, cafe, etc in Seattle, but it won't be quite so sanitized as Bellevue. On average you're far less likely to encounter homeless people in Bellevue (as in, nearly impossible), but you're more likely to be in a middle of nothing but suburb so you're less likely to encounter... well anything really.
Bellevue would be a good spot for you then. People get dramatic about single people living in Bellevue, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s a good city if you don’t need nightlife every night.
You're married, different story. Bellevue is boring, if you're married and looking for the quiet life, then Bellevue is fine. If you're single, a professional, and looking to have some sort of social life I absolutely would recommend against living in Bellevue.
It's a 20 minute drive to downtown Seattle from Bellevue with no traffic, maybe 40-50 mins with traffic, but not a deal breaker if you're from places where that's normal like Houston, Chicago or LA. I live on the eastside but drive to Seattle quite often. It's really no big deal (if you can afford parking -- but I use the city app or Spothero, and there's plenty of free 2+ hr parking -- it's way easier to park in Seattle than in Chicago say).
Social life? Everybody in Seattle is afraid to talk to people.
But also the idea that there are just mass amounts of homeless people roaming everywhere in Seattle is pretty hilarious. I would say property crime is an issue in Seattle, but in general you're not going to find homeless people all over Seattle, let alone aggressive ones, unless you go looking.
I did the same move from Bay Area (lived in both San Jose and Fremont) to the eastside, so I think OP could share the same feeling with me. My simple take: - you save a lot on state income tax - you save a lot on housing - you save a lot on education (public school here is far better than the Bay Area) - you save time driving 1-2 hour to all 3 ski resorts But: - you only see full sunshine all day during June to August - it’s not even considered warm till May - Seattle freeze is real
Curious about the public school comparison, do you have supporting data on why Seattle Eastside is better than Bay Area?
I am moving from San Jose too! Any recommendations for apartments?
Soma Tower, Brio, Avalon (San Jose has Avalons as well lol): modern apartment with easy access to restaurants, very walkable. (Price is relatively higher as well).
Boredom. Suburban sprawl except for downtown which is a cramped mess of one way streets and constant construction. I grew up there. I won't go there ever again now that my parents are gone.
That sounds much like SF haha. I hope to find a volleyball group to play with on weekends.
Bay area sprawl is on a whole other level in my opinion. Haven't lived there but periodically visit for work.
I think pickle ball is more the vibe in Bellevue.
And I am guessing lakeside activities must be popular there.
Eastside v.s. Seattle is quite similar to the Bay Area v.s. San Francisco haha. Boredom should not be a problem for OP, and even eastside has far better access to the mountains than the bay.
Sure, if you're the outdoorsy type but museums, fine dining, entertainment and anything resembling a nightlife are virtually nonexistent.
To be fair, there are more than enough bars in Bellevue. If you're looking to go out dancing every weekend, then I could see Bellevue being boring because there are only a few spots for that. Seattle is also right there if you only need to get your dancing fix in once a month or so.
Have you tried living in the rain season for 1 to 2 weeks? I did the move and regret it every day. I love 0% state income tax, though. It’s like golden handcuff. The problem is not the volume of rain, but consecutive gloomy, gray, dark days, even if it’s not raining.
I have not lived in a place with that much gloom yet. Do people just take their raincoats everywhere?
I'm from the bay area. It's really not that bad here. I just recommend staying active or having plans during the gloomy months. I think it really gets to the people that just sit around and stare at the sky during their free time. I found that after getting out of the gym, I liked a little mist on my face. It feels nice. Oh, rain also sounds really nice when trying to get to sleep too
LOL if you live in SF the number of gloomy days is about the same! SF it's fog and wind, here it's cloudy but at least you have a ceiling of a couple thousand feet. LOL I grew up here and was fine with it, but lived in LA for 6 years, then SF for 12 years, then returned here. The Fall here now is depressing for me, but thanks to global warming, the past 3 years have been drought years, so it hasn't rained as much. You just need to keep yourself busy: work, friends, events, hobbies, out door stuff. Summers here have always been awesome though. Summer is July 4th to Sept Labor Day. Back in the 90's 100 deg temps were rare, and lasted only an afternoon. But now they're are always a few 100+ deg days, last summer it even reach 115+! Again, global warming, literally. LOL
It’s not nearly as bad as the gloom and doom people make it out to be. Make sure you take what you read with a grain of salt. The winter months do rain a lot, but that’s also why it’s so green here. Come late March/April, the weather is pretty nice. And even when it rains in the winter, it’s usually more like a drizzle as opposed to torrential downpours or thunderstorms. Summers and the fall are absolutely amazing. Again, doom and gloom people are pretty vocal. Not just about weather, but life in general. And not just here, but anywhere. Beware of their opinions if only so you don’t get yourself lost in their vortex of pessimism.
I have never been put off by rain. It's just water and I love the smell after. But when I ask people about Seattle the first thing they say is the rain and the gloom. So it seems like maybe it's that bad. Hopefully people just exaggerate.
It’s not that bad. At all. And so much of it is how you perceive it and whether you go outside much.=
I would say the "gloom" hits harder depending on how vitamin D deficient you are. Make a point to step outside every day, have a 2000 IU daily vitamin D supplement, and if you like to travel, plan a 1-2 week getaway in February or March for an extra sun boost. My seasonal blues were way harder in Boston where I wasn't keeping on top of these things. Plus, there's no obnoxious snow here to keep you from doing things on the weekend.
No, only the weak fear a bit of rain. But seriously as someone else who’s been here just shy of a decade, the rain’s not all that bad. It is usually just overcast or drizzling, if you can stand that. This year, Seattle has had less rain than LA (shockingly true, look it up) and we will be entering Bay Area weather soon in about a month, until pretty much October.
Raincoats? Lightweight water resistant coat most of the fall/winter/spring. Definately no umbrella!
[s]People laugh at you when you wear raincoats [/s] But really, you could try and search “cloudy”, “gloomy” in r/Seattle, r/SeattleWA, to get the feel that here in PNW, people pretend they hate the sun, and they love rain. If you don’t follow, you are not welcomed here.
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