We are currently on Whidbey Island and looking to relocate soon. We'll be first time homeowners on a tight budget, and Mount Vernon is one of our options.

We are currently looking at a house on 14th street (about a block from Hillcrest Park.)

I'm trying to get a feel for the neighborhoods and schools. Our obvious top concern is that the neighborhood is safe with quality people and the schools are decent.

Anyone have any input? I'd also love to hear any pros and cons of living in Mt. Vernon. Please PM me if you have info that you think might offend anyone. :thumb

I think that area is very nice, it has the older homes nearby and seems like a established neighborhood without lots of new building going on. My children go to Lincoln School very nearby and have many friends who live in that neighborhood, if we could afford to move we would consider looking in that very neighborhood. It seems like a lot of the folks walk their kids to school and the park and are "crunchy"....as far as labels go. We have really liked Lincoln Elem. I think that the schools are as good as anywhere, it always depends on what teacher you get, no matter what school your at! I know that MV High has some of the lower scores for the standardized testing, but I also have to take into consideration the diverse community and what that brings to the student populations. We like Mt. Vernon. we also like S.Whidbey Is!!!!

and we are both due in Nov!

South Whidbey is nice, but the cost of living is out of CONTROL! Also, being this secluded has been totally overrated. There is absolutely nothing out here.

yes, maybe it is the "fantasy" of living off the land and being all earthy that I love about S.Whidbey....I havn't tried it myself and dh says I would miss running into town on a whim for anything and everything....I have some wonderful friends who live on some property there with there 3 kids in a tiny 1 room cabin, outhouse included and tub on the back porch ~ it is so fun to visit! So, when do you think you'll move?

I had this vision that South Whidbey would be totally crunchy, with tons of likeminded parents, but it hasn't been that way at all. We've lived here for several years and so far, all I've seen is mainstream folks, old hippies and rich yuppies. I haven't been able to hook up with any parents and it's still considered novel that I breastfed a toddler, didn't vaccinate and cloth diapered.

It's really just a big tourist trap where rich people live here year round and pretend to be eco-conscious. Normal people can't afford to be. I can't even buy from the multiple farmers markets, because the cost is so high.

Oops, forgot to answer your question.

I'M hoping that we won't be officially moving until December. I'm due November 23rd and I'm having a homebirth, so its not like I can just up and move unless I want to find a new HB midwife, which I don't really want to do.

We looked at the house last night and it needs some serious TLC, so we would need to work on it for the next couple of months anyway. Afterwards, we went and played at Hillcrest Park and it was so nice and fun. I can't figure out if the kids would go to Lincoln or Jefferson?

Im not sure either on schools, Im thinking Lincoln though?!! We have a school transfer so our kids can go there. I have met a handful of the crunchy folks out on S.Whidbey thru the said friends...maybe they just have their group and aren't out much...but I know they are there.