Reviews & Comments
Ferndale, WA
Cost of Living and taxes -
6/6/2007Our property taxes went up 45% this year. Guess we shouldn't have weeded the yard or mowed the lawn! Gas prices are 40 cents per gallon higher than the national average today and for the last couple of years. Um, hello? Are there not two oil refineries up the street from here, where the stuff is actually made? My annual "cost of living" pay raise doesn't even cover the additional expense of our property taxes this year let alone the additional expenses of living in this beautiful area.
In effect, living and working here is moving my family financially backward. Not my idea of a quality lifestyle.
Bellingham, WA
Driving me out -
6/6/2007I love living in Bellingham. A common typo of mine is Belongham. Purely accidental, but truth. I endure the wet dreary winters, autumns and springs for the amazing summer. There is beauty everywhere. Water, mountains, outlying pastures, cute downtown, funky neighborhoods.
However, the job market is TERRIBLE. It is becoming unaffordable to live here and have any hopes of ever paying off our mortgage, or have a quality of life that does not revolve around the sheer expense of living, commuting and working here. I've lived here 11 years and I love love love it. Considering relocating to another part of the country to avoid waking up in 30 years only to realize I did not have time outside of working my butt off to actually enjoy the quality of life this beautiful, unique town affords. So sad! Californians and big money retirees... go away!