Right on the Puget Sound is a beautiful port city.
Welcome to Seattle, a city on the northwestern side of Washington.
Seattle is the largest city in Washington. It is also the largest in the Pacific Northwest.
It has a lot of natural resources. It also boasts several freshwater and saltwater areas, meadows, hills, mountains, and forests.
The city earned the nickname Emerald City because of its natural beauty and rich, green forests. And over the past few years, the town also campaigned for beautification by displaying flowers.
As such, people call it the City of Flowers.
Some also call the city the Gateway to Alaska. Here, you will find several cruise lines that go straight to Alaska.
Now, is Seattle right for you?
Read on to find out.
List of Contents
Is Seattle, WA, a good place to live in? A City of Opportunities
The country is full of opportunities. And Seattle is one of those cities that brim with these opportunities. It is a seaport city at the pacific north of the county and is the financial capital of Washington.
With all these features, what else will you be looking for?
The Good Side
There are several reasons why you should move to Seattle.
The city has a diverse population. It also has a moderate climate and a world-class healthcare system.
Diversity at its Finest
Seattle has a population of close to about a million.
The city attracts millennials and career professionals of all ages. Aside from these, the city also attracts nature lovers.
Over the years, it has become the hub for educational, medical, technological, and scientific sectors. The creativity and diversity in its population are becoming more evident.
Here, you will find several diverse neighborhoods.
There are neighborhoods with Native American residents. There are areas for Scandinavians, Asians, and Africans.
The city has a growing LGBTQ++ community.
About 42% of the residents of Seattle were from outside the state. Also, about 2% of the residents are from outside the country.
If you decide to live in Seattle, boredom has no room for you here.
There are several activities available. Thanks to the city’s diverse population, these activities have an ethnic flair.
Moderate Climate
The city will always have something for you. It has a moderate climate, water, mountains, beaches, and forests.
The city is famous as a rainy city.
These rains may put you off if you don’t like the wet weather. However, the city experiences about 152 days of sun every year. This number may not be overwhelming but look at this as a treat.
The city is not too hot. And when it gets hot, you get a balance of rain once in a while.
Also, temperatures in the city are comfortable. You can expect snow during winter, but it may not be much.
Snowfall is usually less than seven inches during winter. The national average is 28 inches per year.
If you love the snow, the mountains will always be near. You can quickly go there if you want more snow.
However, if you despise shoveling all that snow during winter, Seattle is a perfect choice for you.
High-Quality Healthcare
A great advantage when moving to Seattle is the quality of healthcare in the city.
City residents have full access to good healthcare facilities.
For example, the Seattle Children’s Hospital is one of the best children’s hospitals in the country.
The University of Washington Medical Center is also one of the best in America in nine adult specialties.
Cascade Valley Hospital has high-quality medical services you do not usually see elsewhere. Also, the Polyclinic has several locations that offer lots of medical specialties you can only find in much bigger cities.
Excellent Universities and Educational Institutions
If you are looking for a high-quality public or private school, Seattle has it.
The city is home to more than 200 schools. Their ratings are also top-notch. To add to the numbers, Seattle is also home to about 20 four-year colleges and universities.
As of this writing, here are the best colleges you can find in the city.
- The University of Washington: specializes in communications, molecular biology, psychology, and biochemistry.
- Seattle University: a private Christian university specializing in nursing, finance, and marketing.
- Seattle Pacific University is a Christian college great for education, nursing, and business majors.
The Bad Side
Now, we tackle the factors you should consider before moving to Seattle.
Crimes and More Crimes
Recent reports state that the city is seeing more crimes than in the past years. It was a relatively safe city in the previous years.
Seattle today is seeing one of the highest crime rates in the country. Most of these fall under property crimes.
While lower, the number of violent crimes is not as standard as we want.
Homelessness Problems
Another growing concern in Seattle is the problem of homelessness.
Seattle sees an increased number in its homeless population every day. Most of them also deal in alcohol and drugs.
There are homeless shelters, and you see them all over the city.
However, these homeless shelters may not be enough to address the city’s homeless problems.
Also, the homeless problems may be adding to the increasing crime rates of the city.
What is the cost of living in Seattle, WA? An Expensive Metro in Washington
Seattle is an expensive city.
When you compare the city with the national average, you will find that it is 72.3% more expensive.
The Good Side
If there are more affordable commodities in Seattle, these are the costs of healthcare and utilities.
If you remember what I said earlier, the healthcare quality in Seattle is also top-notch. And what I adore about this is that it is also about 14.8% more affordable than the national average.
So, as a resident, what do you get?
What you get is a high-quality healthcare system that is more affordable than any average city in the country.
Another pro in the Seattle budget is the cost of utilities.
As of this writing, utility costs are about 31.2% cheaper than the national average. It is even more affordable than the average in Washington.
The Bad Side
As you can see, housing costs are the culprit for Seattle’s overall high cost of living.
Housing costs in Seattle are about 209% more expensive than the national average.
This expense translates to a median home cost amounting to about US$851,400. The amount is more expensive than the national average of US$291,700.
I cannot say that the cost of food, groceries, and transportation is any better.
The cost of food and groceries is 8.7% more expensive than the national average. Transportation costs are more costly by about 37.5% than most cities in the country.
Why work in Seattle, WA? A Strong Economy Means More Jobs
There are three reasons why you should work in Seattle.
One of these reasons is the strong economy of the city. A strong economy means a string of jobs available for its residents.
Also, the city is a hub with its busy highways, airport, and seaport. Traveling to your convention or your other offices will always be convenient.
The Good Side
Here are the primary reasons you should come live and work in Seattle.
Busy Airports, Seaport, and Highways
Seattle has the eighth busiest airport in the country.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport serves about 31 passenger airlines.
It opens the city to several business opportunities here and abroad.
Aside from the airport, Seattle is home to The Port of Seattle.
The port serves the cruise industry and is the gateway to some heavy primary cargo container services. It is also the gateway for trade with the Asian continent.
With all of these ports open and busy, it presents several opportunities for the city to grow.
And with the city’s growth comes a strong economy with several thousand job opportunities.
A Strong Economy
Seattle has a strong economy.
It has an unemployment rate that has remained low for many years. The city is also home to solid industries like technology, professionals, healthcare, education, science, and hospitality. The retail sector is also making waves here.
Bill Gates and his team are some of the most notable companies that made Seattle their home.
Microsoft is in nearby Bellevue. This robust technology presence resulted in a stronger Seattle economy and numerous job opportunities.
And as the string of companies here grows, so is the city’s economy. The city grows with these companies.
As of late, several plans cover the improvement of mass transit and local amenities.
Job Opportunities
Together with the economy that is ever-growing strong is the job market growth.
The city is seeing growth in different sectors. These industries that are growing are the healthcare, technology, and engineering industries.
The presence of these giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google adds value to Seattle.
Such growth in the job market also results in a low unemployment rate for Seattle.
The Bad Side
Of course, with the growth of the city, its economy, and its population, we will also see some downfalls.
The growing population in Seattle resulted in a problem the city has to address in the coming years.
Read on about this problem.
The Issue with Traffic
Because of the growing population, Seattle also sees its traffic getting heavier with each passing day.
During rush hours, you could spend about one hour (or even more) of your time traveling from your workplace to your home.
Of course, this would have to depend on where you live. However, traffic in Seattle generally gets worse as the years go by.
If you are going to work in Seattle, you might as well find a home near your workplace.
Doing so can help you with your commute and your finances.
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Seattle is a growing city.
It has a lot of opportunities. However, together with the options, there are also drawbacks.
If you plan to move here, you must choose the right neighborhood. Choosing the right area means it should be near your workplace to beat the heavy traffic. It should also be a neighborhood that is safer than most.
The city is expensive.
However, if you add up the cost and compare it with the salary you will get, you might have it suitable here.
Plus, the healthcare is fantastic.
Will you settle in Seattle?
Let me know.