Meh. - 5/5/2023

I moved to Sequim in 2013. Being here for the last 10 years I have seen a lot of changes. It is not for the better. As a 38 year old single mother to a teenage boy, I can give some deeper insight for the “younger” generations of what to expect. This will be long, but I hope it seems thorough. - If you have school aged children or grandchildren, I would not recommend the public school system. Unfortunately as in many areas, schools are underfunded and are unable to perform to their full potential. It’s not a horrible school district, but everything stays the same and there is no growth or opportunity for development. However, that can be applied to everything else going on in this community or lack thereof. -There isn’t much for kids to do around here after school except for The Boys and Girls Club. Their program is wonderful! I am grateful for this and have seen how much my child has grown into a more mature, responsible young man with this program’s help. Outside of this program, there is very little to offer. - Restaurants are few, the food is mediocre with most of them and it is expensive. As for opening new restaurants or a variety of food options you won’t find it in this town. There are about 10-15 restaurants in this town and 90% of them I do not recommend. They are just O.K. - If you are wanting to experience “happy hour” or a restaurant staying open after 8 p.m., it almost doesn’t exist. I can name 1 restaurant that stays open after 8. I can name another restaurant who actually offers Happy Hour, besides Applebees. If you don’t care about this, then this town might be a good option for you. -If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or gardener then this is a great area to be. However, you are limited to how often you are able to go out hiking, walking, camping excursions throughout the year. Best bet is April through October. Even April can go either way. -Speaking of weather. As of it being known as “Sunny” Sequim is a hard one to agree with. Yes, in the summertime that is USUALLY the case. Although summer of 2022 we still had the “cloudy/gloomy overcast” weather with the temperatures maybe reaching 60 degrees up until July. Is this common? No, this was the first I’ve seen this happen in the time I have lived here. But the point is, it can and has happened. -From October to April, there is several overcast, gloomy days, similar to Seattle. When we do get sun, especially after overcast season, the common joke/question is, “What is that bright light up in the sky?” Seriously. The wind is horrible throughout this time (gusts of 50+ mph) and the area becoming dark by 4 p.m. and the sun out by 5 a.m. The chances of needing to repair your fence or do some cleanup of the debris after a windy storm is at least 50%. -We have had fluctuating amounts of snow. It seems every 10 years we get 2-3 ft of snow in one storm. Snow shovels and bags of ice melt are best to have on hand. Most years, it has been anywhere from 2-3 inches or a foot of snow in total for the entire season. If you live right in town, the snow removal crew are usually really good about getting the roads cleared pretty quickly. -As for the people in this community, it used to be genuinely friendly and social. I have noticed in the last 5 years this has changed significantly. People in general, not all, are not as patient, friendly or go with the flow when it comes to going about your day to day routines. Driving, going to the grocery store, shopping, etc. The chances of coming across people being rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful 5 years ago was maybe 10%. Nowadays, I would say it’s closer to 50%. -The ages you will see are about 60-70% over the age of 60. The common saying among the locals Sequim is known as, “Heaven’s waiting room”. Not that this is a bad thing, but the businesses mainly cater to this age bracket. Frustrating to the rest of us as the other age brackets seem to not exist especially when it comes to shopping for clothes and other things to do. You are better off going to Silverdale with a lot more options. Which is a 1 hour drive. -Lack of diversity. Although this is S.L.O.W.L.Y. Improving, I can say the community is over 85-90% is white. I wish there is more diversity to help this community grow successfully. Again, change does not happen quickly or easily here. -Medical care is horrible here. If you’re a retiree, you can get into appointments, once established, 2-3 weeks out. Everyone else, 6-9 months. This has not improved since I have lived here. With the regular public medical facilities, you may get 30 minutes with a Dr. and most of the time you have to make another appointment after that if you want go further in depth with any medical concerns you might have. See ya Dr. in another 6 months to get further in depth with my medical concerns! Frustrating is putting it mildly. -I would recommend going to an Integrative Health Dr. for all ages. As I am able to be in for an appointment 2 weeks out, sometimes less. AND I also get a full hour appointment with my Dr. -Emergency room services are dirty and appalling. This has been a consistent problem since I have moved here. Go to Port Townsend where it is at least clean and their services are a lot better. Not perfect, but what medical facility is? I’d rather drive 45 minutes to Port Townsend where I know the chances of me recovering from whatever ails me will not be added with an additional infection due to the lack of sanitation. Or if your ailments are more severe, they will usually have you go to Seattle or Bellevue to get more in-depth care. Commute is at least a 2 hour drive one way. -Renting or buying? Good luck! Prices are sky high here. The only relief or availability to get affordable housing is catered mostly towards the 55+ community. Again, what about the rest of us? -If you have pets and are trying to rent, most places are not pet friendly. They are out there, but you have to dig deep and be fast on the application process. -My suggestion? Offer to pay a non-refundable pet deposit per pet. That’s how I was able to get into a rental when I first moved here. I had 4 pets! And the property listed for rent stated no pets. Was it worth it? Yes! You don’t know until you ask and don’t be afraid to. -I was able to buy a home a year after that, but that was before the big rush/demand for people wanting to move here. SUMMARY: Would I recommend this town to everyone? No. Who would be the best fit? Retirees who want a mundane, boring life. Was this a good place to raise my son? In some ways. However, we have outgrown what this area has to offer. This town is not a good fit for some, but doesn’t mean it’s not for others depending on what is important to you.

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Don't believe the latest rave reviews! - 4/20/2021

Take note of all the recent positive remarks about Sequim. Most all are either realtors, business owners, or local tribal members who own and dictate to this entire town, or transplant Democrats who are seeking more of the same company. Local people are leaving in droves, getting good money for their homes from democrats who are tainting this area, and heading to law-abiding and less corrupt towns. We lie directly beside Port Angeles. Look at the wreck that town has become. It's already filtered into Sequim. This town is going the way of Issaquah and Bellevue...packed with homes too expensive for the local youth to buy, and pavement replacing meadows. It's a disgusting change.

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Not what it was - 4/4/2021

Sequim used to be a wonderful place to live. The beautiful farms are almost all gone and replaced with trailer parks, clutters of homes, townhomes. It has been invaded with implants from other states. The new regional Mat clinic, mental ward ,right downtown main street will be bringing in drug addicts from other counties with no housing here for our locals and now they have to compete with the imported drug addicts for low cost housing. We have no 24 hour medical clinic, or a hospital. This is all funded with government money.. So many of the locals are moving and just more implants are coming in .If you are trying to get away from all of this drug addict crazies, homeless areas you don't want to move here. The only one that like are the real estate sales.

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We Love It Here! - 3/21/2021

My husband and I moved to Sequim from Orange County, CA nearly 7 years ago. Sequim is a blessing to us. If we get the urge to travel a bit, there are many places to venture out to see, within a few hours or less. We've been twice to Victoria, BC, Whidbey Island, and explored the San Juan Islands by ferry. Seattle is within a few hours by car and ferry across Puget Sound, or drive around. Things are indeed changing in Sequim since our arrival. Two of our neighbors also moved here from S. CA, and some from Phoenix, AZ and one from AK. So yes, Sequim has been found and is growing. I hope not too fast. We do lack in skilled workers though. It often takes an inordinate amount of time to get a plumber, electrician, or most anyone skilled in the trades to do a project. Mechanics sometimes require a week or more advance notice for an appointment. Seems this area would be a great opportunity for new businesses which have these services. They would definitely prosper. We love this place, and are never looking back at California. Go Sequim!

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A Breath Of Fresh Air - 3/19/2021

Sequim is the one of the final places in Western Washington where one may enjoy a perfect blend of just enough infrastructure without being overwhelming, with a blend of mountainous beauty, farmland, ranches, country, salt water beaches, and water. Outdoor activities are many, From hiking, fishing, kayaking, hot air ballooning, farmers markets, flea markets, car shows, various festivals, to walking, running, bicycling, or even riding your horse along the paved Olympic Discovery Trail, which runs from Port Townsend, through Sequim, and ends in Port Angeles. Sequim boasts beautiful views. We are close to the Olympic Rain Forest and its wonders, as well as the Pacific Ocean beaches. The area is well known to birders, as numerous eagles, hawks, and songbirds are numerous. You will occasionally find an artist putting these beautiful surroundings and vistas to canvass. The only downside I can think of would be for someone looking for the urban city life and what it offers them. If you are looking for some room to breathe, and an oasis from the city, and more nature than buildings and people...Sequim, in my opinion, is the best place to live in W. Washington.

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Sequim is a failed town. - 2/6/2021

Forget all the prior reviews, as Sequim has changed dramatically within the last year, actually. Since the county and city leadership turned democrat due to the the influx of transplants, liberal "values" have created a town where the police are not allowed to enforce the law, resulting in an ever-increasing amount of daily property crime, vandalism and theft. Even businesses have stopped attempting to prosecute or even stop shoplifters. I know, because people working in those businesses have told me so. Add street bums asking for handouts rather than working to the mix. They are on practically every corner. The town had a convicted sex offender begging for cash, and naïve, ignorant liberals gave him cash. The lack of law meant burgeoning and filthy homeless camps all over town. They live in old campers in store parking lots, which are ignored by store owners and the law. Sequim and the city leaders thrive on government grants. Million of dollars worth. Grant money has funded an enormous multi-county Methadone treatment center and mental institution here. They have already broken ground on the 20 acres, and in all of their liberal wisdom, placed it smack dab in the heart of town, where 300 or more drug addicts, crazies and felons will soon be wandering the once quaint streets, coming and going as they please. Hey, might as well mention the millions in grant money already given to begin building low-cost housing to accommodate these miscreants of society. Grant money...do you think it makes it's way to the private lives of officials? Hmmmm. Transplants and their "stupid is as stupid does" ethos has destroyed Sequim. Instead of a lavender fest, we'll have a drugfest. Maybe a bumfest. Just like California, here you have the opportunity to pay 1/2 a million dollars for an average home in a slum. And don't bother trying to rent or renting your home. This state makes it nearly impossible to evict bad renters, and afford little protection to the landlord.

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A Place For Successful, Hard Working People - 11/18/2018

There is a reason the population has increased here by nearly 90% growth in the last 17 years. People want to live here. Sequim's infrastructure is finally catching up with the population. In addition, I am seeing MANY more young families living here. People want to raise their children away from the city crime and pollution...as well as being in a community which is strong in family values. This is place where people are active and love the mountains, rivers, trails, ocean and straits...and the entertainment and peace they provide. No, it is isn't inexpensive to live here. But people who do live here can afford it because of their hard work to achieving financial success, whether it be through formal education or trade. We love people who earn their keep.

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Less than 1% Job Growth & It Shows in Sequim - 9/2/2018

Read the stats on this website: public administrators in Sequim make $70k a year which is $14k more than the average in Washington State, while the average earnings a person takes home in Sequim is $25k, which is less than the national average and far, far below the pay of the Sequim city manager who makes $90-100k a year for making sure Sequim progresses with job growth at a rate of less than 1% a year; the unemployment rate in Sequim is higher than the national average, and many people working are only doing it for the health insurance because they're close to retiring; job growth has been less than 1% for the past year, and it shows in Sequim. The Clallam County economic council even had a report that showed this area is basically doomed due to the regulations that are taxing away the life that's out here. Yeah, Sequim's great, if you're retired, from California, or a millionaire on Bell Hill.

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hellhole - 5/10/2018

Gossiping locals who don't want you there to begin with, because they serve as the serf labor to provide the retireees with their services. this is a place to die, not to live.

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Sequim a slice of Heaven - 5/9/2018

If I won the lottery and could live anywhere, I'd still live in Sequim. It has all the mild weather of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest without the rain. (Less than 15 inches a year). We have the Pacific Ocean, Olympic National Park, Olympic Mountains. Sequim has a well educated population and very little crime. (a lot of people don't even lock their doors) The age is the population is older. (Mostly retirees from Seattle and California) Most tend to be very supportive and friendly.

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DEATH TRAP - 4/25/2018

This place is a death trap. Typical of small towns, not only everyone knows your business, they dig hard to find it out. Workplaces here are a joke, but this is a retirement town, not a place to go live if you're working age. People here are WEIRD, and look at you funny. If you aren't there to retire, you are there to be a slave to the retired. There is no living wage around here, and all the locals seem to do is get high. Some choose meth, the rest are stoned on pot. Never coming back here as long as I live.

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Sunny Sequim - 12/13/2017

Bring your money, you will need it to live in this paradise. Home values have shot up over the past two years, homes under $300,000. Are far and few between. Don't expect to rent, if you could find five rental homes to choose from you've hit the jackpot. Water and power rates are high...water is at a premium, this area was once a desert, many homes within the city limits have rock yards due to the high cost of water. The closest shopping mall is in Silverdale, Wa. Fifty miles away. Need to fly somewhere? It's a three hour drive to SEATAC.....there are no commercial flights out of the Port Angeles airport. If you like warm weather go elsewhere...it rarely gets above sixty degrees in the summer months, last year I turned the A/C on twice. We have one movie theatre in Port Angeles, it's only open on weekends. Currently gas is over $3.00 a gallon. Our police department is excellent, we enjoy a very low crime rate, but like everywhere else it's slowly rising due to a small drug culture. It's reported that the average age is about fifty here, I think it's actually more like sixty five.....mostly senior adults, we have excellent medical coverage but it can be difficult to find a doctor. If you have a serious medical problem plan on being treated in Seattle. We are currently experiencing earthquake drills, the powers that be are telling us that we're long overdue for the big one. I've lived here for twenty three years and have never been happier, but plan to "den up" if you join us. Sequim is a happy place for certain types of people but it isn't for everyone.

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One Of First Places I Live When... - 10/14/2017

I move to Olympic Peninsula. I tell you I have lived all over USA since immigrating here in late 90's. Truly, there is no bad USA. Sequim is good mix between big city and tiny one. Good place to start service business if you want to be your own boss. Many retirement here so many service needed. I pressure wash houses sidewalks and roofs for over year and made very good cash. Much opportunity for person with good work ethic. Climate excellent.

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Tough economy - 2/21/2016

Very few family wage jobs. High retirement. School district struggles to survive with difficulty passing any bond measures for improvements.

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Perfection! - 12/21/2015

Sequim is absolutely one of the most beautiful places to live. It is quiet and peaceful and as I write this I am looking out at a view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mount Baker, the cascade mountains and Sequim Bay from my home. The summers are beautiful, not too hot and little rain.

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Tax returns ?!?! - 10/24/2014

My boyfriend and I want to move to Sequim Washington to start out lives with nature. We have been researching the area for months and love it! Our only concern/question has to due with no income tax in Washington state. We are from California and tax returns are a big deal here, how do tax returns work for Sequim Washington? Do residents end up paying those taxes during tax return season because it isn't being taken from their paychecks? This would really deter us from living there if we has to pay those taxes back every year. Thanks for your time!

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Still a great place to live or retire to, but thin - 6/2/2014

In the early 1990's, Sequim, Washington was named one of the nation's best places to retire on one episode of Evening Magazine. For the next several years, this announcement caused an influx of retirees - and many, many others - from all over the world to flock to Sequim, vastly inflating the economy in just about every conceivable way. Needless to say, recent times have been tough - and I think Sequim was even less prepared than most small towns were when the recession hit. With employment here being more of an incidental thing, due to the median age being 62, with the vast majority of its population already happily retired and safely collecting their pensions and/or Social Security benefits - there were very few people "in the know" enough to advise people who they might turn to when things got downright desperate for them. We don't have any government offices here - the closest federal agencies are 1-1/2 hours away, in Silverdale. Banks and mortgage companies were woefully slow to send their reps over here from Seattle to advise either their branches or the homeowners they were supposed to be advising on the mortgages that they could no longer pay. It seemed that being three hours and a ferryboat ride from the nearest metropolitan city (Seattle) pretty much put us on the edge of the known universe - and about a year behind the times when it came to the implementation of any of the solutions that were being offered. But things are steadily changing. In my unique situation, I've been able to view Sequm from a couple of different vantage points in the 17 years since relocating here from the 'Burbs of Seattle. It's not all good, but it's not all bad, either.

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Best places - 3/21/2014

Too cold in winter and too hot in summer

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About the best blend of services, GREAT local food - 9/29/2013

Sequim has great local foods due to the local farms. Plenty of great local foods in all price ranges. Even the local one of a kind taco eatery uses wonderful fresh local foods. This is the land of clean air, far from city noise, smog, and other irritating city factors such as traffic, air planes etc. This is not an easy place to find work unless you are in medical. However for those willing to settle for quiet, the delight of NO shopping malls, clean air, food grown from local farms rather than mystery foods that most chain eateries serve, the spectacular Olympic mountains to the south and salt water to the north then this is a great place to be. Friendly easy walking and bicycling trails, a super recreation center with a CLEAN Olympic sized pool, world class weight room etc for those rainy days and yeah, most people do know where their kids are. Metro types squirm over here and can't wait to get back to their noise, grime and fast paced city life while the rest of us just enjoy a normal life that eludes those on the other side of Puget Sound. If you like quiet, pick your own berries at local farms for more than fair rates, quiet evenings - then this is a great place. If you need a mall fix- Silverdale is 54 miles away and if you need it that badly- keep going east and back to the mainland.

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A Place with lots to do - 3/13/2011

Sequim is close to both the ocean, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Lakes,rivers, and the Olympic Mts. There is no smog, little traffic, and the summer weather is close to perfect with long days. The winters are mild but tend to be gloomy.

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