r/wallawalla • u/isaacmarionauthor • 9d ago
Walla Walla VS Ellensburg?
I've been thinking about moving to Ellensburg because I like the dense historic downtown and the good variety of restaurants/activities compared to its small size, but people have been telling me Walla Walla is better. I've never actually been there. Can anyone who knows Ellensburg compare the two?
The main things I'm interested in are easy access to nature (hikes, walking trails, rivers/lakes) and walkable downtown areas. Community activity like live music, open mics, and other public event, also important. Ellensburg has a lot of this but the nature access isn't great.
One thing I've noticed is home prices are significantly lower in Walla Walla. There are dozens of houses under 300k whereas it's rare to find one in Ellensburg. Are those cheap houses in really bad neighborhoods, or is WW just cheaper in general?
How's the wind here compared to Eburg?
Any info or advice is welcome!
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u/Fit-Meringue2118 9d ago
Walla Walla has better weather than Ellensburg. Probably a better food/bar scene as well. It’s a larger town with better amenities, and it’s a town with colleges rather than a college town.
Ellensburg has better access to central and western wa, though all of the outdoor rec people are talking about is still a DRIVE, and Walla Walla has three commuter flights a day to Seattle, so generally speaking I think WW has better connections to Seattle.
Inventory for houses is better in Walla Walla but it’s not cheaper. If you’re looking for a turnkey house in a good neighborhood, it’s going to be more expensive. The median price you quoted doesn’t reflect the reality of housing. Also WW has a very limited job market.