The Peninsula, on the Puget Sound side, does get above 65 during the summer. Much of the Puget Sound area averages around 74-75 degrees, but that varies over an area that large. The temps are fine. If you go out onto that Olympic Peninsula, you will be in a more isolated region. There are some pockets of small/medium sized towns but nothing that truly compares to the cities between Olympia and Everett.
As far as affordability, that's tough in that region. I can't speak to housing costs and cost of living on the peninsula but it's VERY expensive to live and getting more expensive anywhere within Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston counties, unless you get far east in the southern Puget Sound region. Housing prices have gone up dramatically over the last 10 years and they're expected to rise some more unless some economic drop occurs that would kill off the shortage of available housing for prospective buyers/renters.
Being on the water is a no-go for anyone looking for a good buy in this area. However, if you're willing to get 30-45 minutes away, you might be able to find something OK in Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Enumclaw or go north up to Marysville and Arlington. You'd be close to the Puget Sound shores but not have to suffer with the insane housing costs. I moved to Eastern Washington and live near the Columbia River. If that were appealing (spring/summer/fall all tend to be warm or hot and dry) then Spokane, Ellensberg, Wenatchee, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla are all good candidates.
I personally don't ever want to live anywhere near Portland. If I lived in Oregon, it'd be Central Oregon - Bend area.
Chris |
Pasco, WA |
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