Doh, I lived in WA for about 7 years (like MED, for my (failed) undergrad then working for a few years), but that was in the Redmond/Bellevue area. Plus, I didn't get out too much, so I'm not really much help. I know one of the summers during my undergrad I was working for about a month and a half up in the Everett area. I only saw the bit where I was working, but it seemed reasonable I guess (at least, reasonable city-wise, no comment on political leanings or otherwise). Don't know anything Silverdale.

As for Washington in general, it's fairly wet, so if you're outdoorsy that could be a downer, but if you stay inside a lot like I did, it's not a huge issue. It does keep everything green and beautiful though, so that's pretty nice. In the Seattle area (again, not sure if Everett's quite the same but since it's relatively nearby I imagine so), it doesn't snow much so they don't really have much in the way to prepare when it DOES snow. If it snows, chances are the city shuts down (by CO standards it wouldn't be bad, but it does get icy, particularly since they don't plow nor put down salt). The Seattle area bus system is pretty nice and goes just about everywhere with reasonable frequency, but I don't think Everett's part of it, so don't know if it qualifies.

Hope that helps a bit, though it probably doesn't :P lol