Just checked FBI crime stats: Seattle, Washington is a bit safer than Portland, Oregon. Biggest concern in Portland is the homeless & discarded needles & trash on the streets or in other public areas.

The most concern is about mentally ill homeless who are not taking their medication. They might approach one and sometimes are loud. An occasional stabbing is the worst that I know of--but such an occurrence makes headline news.

Whether or not a car is necessary depends upon where one lives.

The University of Washington in Seattle offers off-campus graduate housing that is safe. Might be hassled by homeless, but rarely violent.

The University District is safe, but there are homeless on the streets.

Queen Anne has property crime, but is safe otherwise. Capitol Hill is popular. Lots of restaurants & nightlife.

Look at crime maps on real estate websites.

A car is great for getting out of the city (going hiking, camping, to the ocean)

Any neighborhood near the UW is fine. We went there decades ago but a lot of our friends still live in the area. We lived in Roosevelt so a couple of stops on a bus but there was a great shopping area and a couple of supermarkets you could walk to (one of which was a Whole Foods.) we loved living there.

Anonymous wrote:Greenlake or Laurelhurst, both would require car (or bus)

+1, but only the east side of Greenlake

Greenlake or Laurelhurst, both would require car (or bus)

Anonymous wrote:Can’t they figure this out? I mean I get wanting advice, but they’re an adult. Unless they asked you to ask random internet strangers stay out of it.

Oh, shut up.

Some of us like to help our kids.

No car needed.

Can’t they figure this out? I mean I get wanting advice, but they’re an adult. Unless they asked you to ask random internet strangers stay out of it.

I’m not sure but a family member attends the undergrad and lives at a sorority house and said there’s a ton of crime all around.

In Seattle? And do you think a car is needed there?
(My kid would be a grad student.) Thanks.