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If you'd love to live in a beautiful city with lots of outdoor recreation, regular rainfall, great public transit network, and breathtaking mountains, moving to Seattle, in Washington D.C. could be the right choice for you.
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. The Emerald City is easily recognized by its most iconic landmark, the Space Needle.
For many years, Seattle has always been listed as one of the best places to live in the US. If you'd like to live in the capital of the US and wondering if Seattle is a great city, we have all the information you need to make the right choice.
Learn some facts about Seattle, WA before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.
How many people are living in Seattle, WA?
The following is a summary of Seattle's population according to World Population Review:
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Start My Quote NowSeattle's temperature often ranges from 37°F to 79°F and is hardly below 28°F or above 88°F. The winters in Seattle are extremely cold, wet, and typically cloudy. Also, summers are warm, short, dry, and sometimes cloudy, according to WeatherSpark.
How fast can you move around if you decide to move to Seattle, WA?
Seattle's average one-way commute time is 27.5 minutes. The U.S. average is 26.4 minutes. According to a study by WalletHub, Seattle has the best public transportation network in the U.S.
Here's a simple summary of how Seattle's residents commute to work, according to Best Places:
Why should anyone consider moving to Seattle?
The people of Seattle love their dogs and you will find the four-legged animal welcome everywhere, including cafes, restaurants, parks, and even public transport.
While in Seattle, you pay no income tax as Washington State levies no tax on personal income. However, the state charges sales tax of up to 7% and property tax of 1%, which are lower than the national average.
Seattle is ranked the 4th best city for the millennial population because of the booming job market, unlimited outdoor recreation options, cultural diversity, progressive views, and sports culture.
The people of Seattle are crazy about sports and passionately support their favorite teams. The city is home to six major professional teams and soccer, basketball, ice hockey, baseball, and football are the majorly watched games in Seattle.
The major professional teams from Seattle are:
One of the best food cities in the US, Seattle has an incredible mix of laid-back and upscale restaurants that serve innovative and mouth watering dishes day and night. Some of the best restaurants to exploring in Seattle are:
With one café for every 2,300 residents, Seattle is ranked as the best city in the US to have coffee. With every prominent coffee company having shops across Seattle, there is no excuse for claiming that you had a bad coffee. You will find coffee roasting companies Conduit Coffee Roasters, Fonté Coffee Roasters, River Trail Roasters, Caffè Umbria, Torrefazione Italia, Fremont Coffee Company, Herkimer Coffee, and Victrola Coffee Roasters having facilities in Seattle.
While in Seattle, do not be surprised when a stranger stops to wish you while jogging through the sidewalk because the residents are famous for their amiable nature. It is easy to make friends in Seattle - just smile at someone at a park, coffeehouse, or bar - he will walk up to you to start a conversation.
Seattle is not just one of the fastest-growing cities in the US; it is also the tech hub of the country. Experts call Seattle the best city to launch a start-up and Amazon, Starbucks, Boeing, Adobe, Google, Apple and Facebook were once startups here before transforming into corporate giants. All these companies are still headquartered in Seattle. And finding a job is not a big deal here. If not interested in that, plan a startup.
Seattle’s public transport system is so robust that you can keep your car at home and catch a train, bus, or cab to reach any part of the city. The light rail is a very convenient and affordable way to get around Downtown Seattle.
Rain is on Seattle's horizon every time and the city gets wet about 150 days a year. One of the bonuses of the climate is that rainbows appear at a moment's notice.
Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.
Here we give you the chance to weigh your options carefully considering the pros and cons of moving to Seattle, WA.
Here are the pros and cons of living in Seattle, WA:
The following are the best neighborhoods in Seattle according to Seattle Met:
| Neighborhoods Place | Median Sale Price | Average Rent | Walk Score | Transit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Hill | $567,500 | $2,070 | 91 | 80 |
| Greenwood | $645,750 | $1,820 | 85 | 54 |
| Lake City | $683,000 | $1,379 | 67 | 56 |
| Central District | $735,000 | $1,948 | 88 | 72 |
| South Park | $435,000 | $2,310 | 59 | 40 |
| Interbay | $714,000 | $1,525 | 49 | 49 |
| Ballard | $769,000 | $2,174 | 87 | 53 |
| West Seattle (and Neighbors) | $592,599 | $1,832 | 68 | 40 |
| Beacon Hill | $585,750 | $1,634 | 63 | 48 |
| Georgetown | $495,650 | $1,800 | 69 | 48 |
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The cost of living in any city is typically calculated using a U.S. average of 100. Any amount that is higher than 100 indicates a more expensive cost of living. An amount that is lower, indicates a less expensive cost of living.
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 172.3, according to Best Places.
Housing is rated as the most significant factor that differentiate the cost of living in one city to the next. The median home value in Seattle is $767,906, according to Zillow.
There are no income taxes in Seattle. That's one less thing to spend your money on. Also, the standard adult fare on Metro transit is $2.75. regardless of the length of the trip or time of day.
What's the average salary and income you're likely to be earning if you move to Seattle, WA? Let's find out using data from Pay Scale, and Data.io
According to Pay Scale, the most popular profession in Seattle are Software Engineer and Project Managers and their earnings are within $47,000 to $139,000 per annum.
Here's a summary of the key metrics of Seattle housing market, according to Zillow:
Will you be renting a home after moving to Seattle? While you're considering that, we've compiled the key metrics of the Seattle rental market.
How much are you most likely to pay if you decide to rent a home in Seattle? Best Places is helping us out with relevant data.
Seattle is a vibrant city and there are no boring outdoor moments. If you decide that moving to Seattle is right for you, there are tons of exciting things to do and breathtaking spots to visit.
We've compiled a simple list of the best things to do in Seattle. You can transform this into a bucket list:
Once the heart of Seattle, Pioneer Square has structures dating back to the late 19th century and is drenched in rich history. Art walks, nightlife, lunch houses, and boutiques make Pioneer Square vibrant day and night.
The world's largest space and air museum annually attracts over 500,000 visitors and holds online programs for thousands of students worldwide.
The iconic Space Needle is an observation tower and the landmark of Seattle city. About 20,000 people use the elevators every day and the tower attracts more than 2 million people annually.
A public market overlooking the Elliot Bay waterfront, Pike Place Market caters to small farmers, craftspeople, and merchants and has been operating for more than a hundred years. About 10 million people visit the market every year.
A museum dedicated to contemporary pop culture, it organizes dozens of exhibits every year both across the US and internationally. The museum is situated just next to the historic Space Needle and houses some of the world's legendary pop culture artifacts.
An aviation museum and education center 25 miles north of Seattle, the Future of Flight Aviation Center, & Boeing Tour is the only commercial jet assembly plant in North America open to the general public. There is a 28,000-square feet gallery with static and interactive exhibits and displays.
An island drenched in natural beauty, Bainbridge Island has boutiques, restaurants, and accommodation options for visitors. Ferries connect the island with Seattle to unplug from daily life.
Just next to the Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass provide a look at the inspiration and influences of artist Dale Chihuly. A 100-feet installation inside the Glass is Chihuly's largest suspended sculpture.
Seattle Art Museum or SAM exhibits 25 European paintings and sculptures of Samuel H. Kress along with one by Van Gogh. Altogether, the museum has about 25,000 pieces on display including a collection of Aboriginal Australian art.
A modern park, the Olympic Sculpture Park has a 9-acre outdoor sculpture museum, indoor pavilion, and a beach. The park is free for all.
The 175-feet tall Ferris wheel is the tallest on the West Coast of the US and has 42 enclosed, heated, and air-conditioned gondolas that can hold up to 8 people each. Once inside, the wheel gives a spectacular view of the city from a height. There is also a light show every weekend.
The Pacific Science Center in Seattle started with an aim of igniting curiosity among people for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking. In association with different science centers, the Pacific Science Center hosts multiple camps and research programs. Almost 1 million people visit the center every year.
Ballard Locks or Hiram M. Chittenden Locks at the west end of Salmon Bay is an engineering landmark and is one of the most visited attractions in Seattle. It carries more boats than any lock in the US and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Seattle, WA, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
Will you feel safe living in Seattle or is it a scary city full of crime?
According to Neighborhood Scout, Seattle has a crime rate of 60 per a thousand residents making it one of the cities with the highest crime rates across the nation.
This is in comparison with various communities of all sizes ranging from the largest cities to the smallest towns.
Also, the chances of anyone becoming a victim of either property or violent crime in Seattle is 1 in 17.
Using data released by the Seattle Police Department and Area Vibes, the following are the key metrics of crime stats in Seattle:
The quality of schools is one the key things you'll have to consider before making up your mind about moving to Seattle. The city enjoys some of the best school ratings across the nation.
Below is a simple summary of the best schools in Seattle, WA as ranked by Great Schools from elementary to universities and colleges.
Mercer Middle School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 1136 students
Eckstein Middle School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 965 students
Hamilton International Middle School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 986 students
Mcclure Middle School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 540 students
Whitman Middle School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 566 students
Coe Elementary School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, K-5 | 560 students
Greenwood Elementary School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, PK-5 | 361 students
Lawton Elementary School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, K-5 | 453 students
Wedgwood Elementary School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, K-5 | 485 students
West Woodland Elementary School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, K-5 | 566 students
Ballard High School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1930 students
Roosevelt High School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1867 students
Garfield High School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1857 students
Cleveland High School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 871 students
Ingraham High School
Seattle Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1387 students
University of Washington
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Puget Sound
Seattle University
Seattle Pacific University
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