Seattle is dead. Seattle is a drug infested, dirty city. I escaping
Brian | Seattle, WA | Report Abuse

I was a federal police officer in Seattle and lived there most of my life... Before we left, there were a few more bad areas, but yes, Seattle's bad areas don't compare to many of the other major metros in CA and back East, but we also had the worst traffic there of anywhere we lived... For some reason, Chicago is rated worse, but that was not my experience in the 10 years we were there. Because of the crazy traffic, high cost of living and insane government, we now live in a facsimile of Mayberry and we love it - 40 minutes to the big city if we need something we don't have in town.
Mark | Mountain Home, ID | Report Abuse

Absolutely agree about Ballard. In just three years it has turned from one of the best neighborhood into a hotbed of insane people and drug addicts.
Ballard | Seattle, WA | Report Abuse

Are you just trolling or something? Check out the Seattle is Dying documentary. Only Rainier Valley & Pioneer Square? Yeah, maybe that was true 10 years ago, go take the short walk between Ballard to Fremont (Frellard), or Capital Hill to Lower Queen Anne, & or Sodo to Georgetown, & I'd bet your opinion will change dramatically. I think you have a seriously out dated opinion of the current state of Seattle. Check out the documentary &/or take one of the walks I recommended above then pleasevcome back & continue this conversation.
JJ | Seattle, WA | Report Abuse

I commenting not just about Seattle but about the fact that this websites list of places to retire are all gloomy cold places. WTF don't they know people want to retire in sunshine states?
John | Livermore, CA | Report Abuse

Things are starting to get worse an hour north of Seattle, crime-wise. Meth and Heroine have made their way to where I live (Camano Island). 2000-19.
Jim | Camano Island, WA | Report Abuse

Seattle is like every other big city. It has its issues. Look at Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu. All these cities have crime, drugs & a homeless problem. The real problem if you really watched Seattle is Dying is the Left Wing greedy Democrats that want monies for themselves.
EJ | Billings, MT | Report Abuse

Seattle is like every other big city. It has its issues. Look at Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu. All these cities have crime, drugs & a homeless problem. The real problem if you really watched Seattle is Dying is the Left Wing greedy Democrats that want monies for themselves.
EJ | Billings, MT | Report Abuse

In Seattle you all need a little bit 1940 Germany, that will clean your city up
EJ | Billings, MT | Report Abuse

I have lived in Seattle for 26 years and have it watched through the transformation from a wonderful vibrant city to what it has become. When I moved here you could buy a nice house for $100,000. Never had to worry about crime or traffic. Today I live in a neighborhood with million dollar houses and we have drive by shootings, house break ins, robberies and car theft. My property taxes are currently $820/month. My job is 20 miles from my home and commute time can be 60-90 mins a day. Some of my coworkers have to commute 2 hrs a day each way to find affordable. People call this paradise. I noticed the change happened when high tech started to move into the city. My home doubled in value in three years following that. We also have many foreign buyers. I rarely go downtown anymore. Too many dangerous characters and people living on the streets. Not something that should be happening in a city with so much wealth. I find the people to be somewhat superficial and not very good at embracing people that may have a different political opinion. I shake my head I astonishment as people continue to move here at an alarming rate. They may think off it as paradise but this is not my definition of paradise. They may come for the jobs but unless you are making over $100,000 it will be hard for anyone to save money. Well I will be retiring soon selling my $850,000 house to move to paradise where I can buy a $250,000 house, live on the water in a community where there is no crime and lots of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities and culture. It makes me sad to see what has happened to Seattle.
Stephen | Seattle, WA | Report Abuse

Not everyone who retires wants to live in warm places. Many of us enjoy four seasons and winter activities. Four of the states that retirees are moving to are Montana, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. For me I would never move to Florida or anywhere with hot humid summers. Terrible weather to live in it you love the outdoors. The reason the places were picked on the list you reference is they are inexpensive places to live
Stephen | Seattle, WA | Report Abuse

Living in a city where the people have no problem with homeless people literally living in a cemetery, defacating in a cemetery, having sex on someone's loved ones gravesite is NOT the kind of people I would want to associate with.
Tracy | Oak Ridge, TN | Report Abuse

Seattle is a cesspool city, period.
Donald | Sequim, WA | Report Abuse