Bellingham, I know it well. Housing costs have gotten very high but other costs are not bad. Bellingham has changed a lot over the last decade and the area is still in transition. People tend to like it when they visit and choose not to leave, which in combination with the history of Canadians coming down to shop means there are many more shopping/arts opportunities than similarly-sized towns elsewhere. It has become known as a retirement destination so the senior population is substantial. The scenery and outdoor opportunities are incredible, and there are some gorgeous parks.
Well, true so far.
However there is a lot of small town hassle, e.g. sexism in hiring and promotion (less evident in the university but really serious elsewhere), corruption in local government (not long ago the mayor used public funds to pick up a Russian mail order bride),
That's half truth at best and closer to slander.
awful hospital and health care (though you won't get anyone local to admit it). The public K-12 schools are also pretty sad and the limited private alternatives are worse.
Blatantly not true. It sounds like pasdemaison in describing Bellingham 30 years ago.
The university has historically been a TWTh commuter campus, with many students returning home for long weekends rather than living locally, though that may be changing. Not the most motivated student population in general, and the English faculty end up teaching a lot of remedial grammar and composition, but some of the students are bright and the appeal of living in the area draws more talented faculty than might otherwise be expected. There is virtually no graduate program; it was only promoted from Western Washington State College a few decades back and they haven't added much. Overall you could do a lot worse, but you'll be happier if you go in with your eyes open.
Now this is really odd. I've never heard anyone describe Western as a commuter campus. Many more students apply to WWU that WWU can take, so it is actually quite selective these days and the students are bright. although a bit obsessed with skiing and snowboarding. The grad program is large and quite dynamic for a Masters Granting University. I'm not really sure what University pasdemaison is describing... maybe WWU circa 1966.
What is true is that Bellingham is an expensive place to live now (median house price is over $300,000) and houses around campus are even more expensive. Faculty salaries have NOT kept pace with housing prices. Some new TT hires are still under 50K.
