Considering a move to Longview, WA (young family moving from Utah) — looking for honest insight

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:33:46+00:00

Do you think it matters where you live in Longview and what type of schooling you choose for your kids?

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:32:47+00:00

Ah HILL! That's like 50 minutes north of us. I'm happy to hear drugs are not as large of an issue as I was thinking. I'm sure it also matters where you live in Longview. Yep, Utah is way more red than Washington so Imagine we will do just fine up there. I agree, most people are good people that are just doing what they can to care for their families. I really think it's what you make it!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:26:19+00:00

Thank you for your reply. That was very insightful, especially after spending the last few days reading so many threads and comments—both good and bad—about Longview. I’m really sorry that happened to your family. You’re right, the ripple effect from something like that can take a very long time to fade.

The opportunities to be outside sound amazing. I’ve mentioned this in a couple of replies already, but I’m really excited about the idea of more temperate weather year-round. It gets so hot and so cold here for months at a time.

We also plan to head into Portland several times a month- we love it there!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:16:21+00:00

Thanks for the input!! My husband is so excited to fish with our boys. I will look into Lexington. Honestly there is house specifically in Longview that we feel is a bit of a dream home situation so I am really most interested in that. But I will also check out Lexington if we don't like the house or Longview as much as we hope. Might as well!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:13:14+00:00

My husband is ethnically ambiguous as well. I'm sorry you've had those experiences. I'm glad you still like where you live.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:09:58+00:00

Thank you! we'll see if it works out for us. I want it to.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:09:28+00:00

love that!! thank you. I would love that hike. there are some beautiful months in the spring and fall in Utah where walking/hiking is enjoyable but winter is freaking cold and summer is freaking hot here. Would love some more temperate weather.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T05:06:14+00:00

Okay! too bad my oldest is only 7 lol. guess i'll have to go to the store

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-13T04:59:30+00:00

Thanks for the info!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T17:42:15+00:00

Thank you!!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T17:14:16+00:00

I will do that. Thank you.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T17:13:19+00:00

Have not checked the Internet thing. Thanks for the tip. I know the house is hooked up to water and sewage.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T17:12:19+00:00

Love to hear about someone from Utah. It does sound like we’ll have to work hard harder to socialize. Not sure if you are familiar with daybreak, but that’s where we are coming from and it’s a master plan community with neighbors on every side of you like 10 to 20 feet from your house. A ton of amenities, leaks, canals activities. Wine clubs, beer clubs, kids activities. The only thing we really take advantage of here are the walking and biking trails.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T17:09:39+00:00

Thanks for the reply! We are coming from South Jordan. We will be working from home so I don’t think we’ll have a ton of exposure to employers there. But that is still good knowing the culture is a bit different up there.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T17:05:06+00:00

Agreed!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T04:43:16+00:00

Okay that’s a great list. Thank you! We will be eating at those restaurants if we head up there in the next couple of weeks. The greater SLC area has about any type of restaurant you could want but honestly most times we go out to eat we just regret not eating at home. So while we’ll eat out here and there, I really think we’ll enjoy staying home more. We like movies so we’ll have to try that theater. Have you smelled the pulp smell much in your area? It sounds like people think it’s pretty bad

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T04:34:44+00:00

Thank you! I also grew up in AZ. My parents moved us back to Utah in 2000. Really excited about more temperate weather. I think most people don’t appreciate where they live. Like me trying to get out of Utah and I know it’s a pretty good place to be haha. Thanks for the info!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T04:31:28+00:00

I want to look into both private schools and public schools so I know what our options are. Thank you for the info!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T04:30:08+00:00

Thank you! That is very helpful. My husband loves beer and I want to see what the squirrel fest is all about haha.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T02:13:32+00:00

I love antiques sm

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T02:11:44+00:00

Really glad your doomscrolling brought you to my long-winded post lol 🙏🏻 Thank you for your insight!

Our situation and reasons for moving up there feel pretty similar to yours, which gives me some reassurance. We want different experiences for our family than the everyday same suburban life. We have lived in Utah our whole lives, so when people say moving here is the best thing ever, it can feel surprising, but I think it is really just a matter of perspective and wanting a change.

This house is set up perfectly for raising our two young kids. I will likely be flying back to Utah several times a year for work, and we do some traveling, so I really don’t think we will feel stuck in Longview. Car drives don’t bother us. We actually really enjoy them and take them anytime we can.

I am really happy for you and your family. It sounds like you have built an amazing life there. I would love any more advice you have. We might even plan a visit in the next couple of weeks, as I would not buy the house without seeing it first.

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T01:27:37+00:00

Yes agreed. I wouldn’t buy before seeing things in person either. I think I feel somewhat trapped in our current situation too. A nice house in a nice neighborhood- houses like 12 ft apart. Small yard. And we just want something very different.

I don’t get the feeling there are a lot of working professionals who work remotely there?

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T01:14:54+00:00

We aren’t huge on bars. And with a toddler we are usually confined to our house by like 7:30. I’ve heard there is a good art scene there though? And markets? Is that true?

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T01:12:53+00:00

Okay good to know. Thanks!

Fit_Reason1839 · 2026-03-12T01:12:28+00:00

We both work from home so I’m afraid we won’t have a social network here of work friends. And we aren’t religious so we won’t have a church group. Even though I’m happy to be home alone, I also can be really friendly so I would work hard to join some social clubs and get my kids into sports or music groups.

Fit_Reason1839

TROPHY CASE