Pro's and Con's of Spokane
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9/4/2012
I have lived on and off between Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and Spokane for my entire life. There are always up's and down's to every place, so I'll be to the point.
The Pro's:
If you don't plan on living in the city itself, there are lot's of great things about some suburb areas..
Good private school options. Homeschool friendly.
Great summers. A few days in the 90's, but mostly in the 80's.
Tons of lakes and mountains nearby. Good skiing in winter within an hr.
Great local produce from Green Bluff.
Very little rain. (I hate rain so I like this aspect.)
Some nice parks (Manito) and a river running through. (lots of people like to float down the Little Spokane in summer)
The Cons:
The city has a very high homeless rate. VERY HIGH. The reason is because Spokane has 4 hospitals for a city of only 200,000. They come here for medical/mental health care. They also bring their meth problems with them.
If you work in the medical field there are tons of jobs. If you don't there are very few decent paying jobs. We have been here for 6 years straight now and my husband still commutes to Seattle every week for work, as there are no decent jobs that pay high here. (unless you are in the medical field or just happen to get lucky)
It is COLD here in the winter. Not as cold as some places, but expect a 17 degree day in January or Febuary. with a low around 10. And it does snow. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
Most of the population is white, and there isn't much diversity. My husband is filipino and we always joke about how rare it is to see someone of another race. Because of this don't expect much culture.
At the same time, there isn't much racism. (Husband doesn't encounter it anyway)
Dining is so-so. You have to drive downtown or to the South Hill for good food.
Public Schools are so-so. Mead and South Hill schools are probably the highest rated.
*The town is politcally conservative, and has high corruption in it's inner poltics. (What town doesn't?!) I'm not saying conservative is bad, (I am fiscally conservative) but some Liberals may want to know that their votes won't win elections in this red town.
Dione | Deer Park, WA