Living in Seattle is a great experience. Here are seven things you should know about living in this lush, green city to make your move as smooth as possible.
You Get to Live in Nature
If you’re a lover of outdoor activities, you’ll love Seattle! This city is beautiful and expansive, offering lots of space for hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. Access to all this greenery is the reason most people decide to move out here in the first place.
Seattle is a two-hour road trip away from all three national parks in Washington and their incredible wealth of glaciers, hiking, and cycling trails. Taking some time away from the bustle of the city to reconnect with nature will help to relax and unwind after a long week at work.
If this prospect excites you, you should probably start packing your bags!
A Great Variety of Employment Opportunities
Another common factor that gets many people to move to Emerald City is the wide variety of employment opportunities available here.
Seattle’s job market is driven by the job candidate – what are you looking for in an employer? What industry do you work in or want to work in, and what are your career goals?
Asking yourself these questions before making the move will ensure you know how to navigate the job market when you do. This will, by extension, allow you to align yourself with the opportunities that match your goals.
A pointer: if you work in tech, you’ll be surprised by how fruitful Seattle is!
It’s a Safe Place to Live
Compared to other cities like Detroit and St. Louis, Seattle is a very safe place to live. The people are chill and they mostly mind their own business, without seeming cold and unfriendly.
But while the crime rate may not be as high as it is in other cities, it still wouldn’t hurt to be careful. Never leave your home unlocked when you’re leaving, and make sure you’re aware of your surroundings at all times. Also, try to find out about the neighborhoods with the safest apartments to live in.
Seattle Has No State Income Tax
You read that right. As of 2018, Texas, Nevada, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Florida forwent taxes levied on their residents’ incomes. This made these seven states a popular destination for young educated people that just graduated college.
Lack of income tax levies has also made Seattle and other cities in these states beacons of growth and development, seeing as the people take home more money, thus having more to save and reinvest.
If you just graduated college and are looking for somewhere affordable to live while you pay off your student loans, Seattle may be the city for you.
It Gets Cold
We won’t lie; the winters in Seattle are quite harsh and it may take you some time to get used to them.
While the temperature doesn’t drop too low, the overall humidity makes it feel much colder than it actually is. You should also expect light drizzle once in a while.
That said, it’s worth noting that Seattle’s weather is quite friendly during other seasons, with only a few hot days in a year.
When the cold days pass, you can expect to see other people excited to get out into the warm sun again.
The Food Is Great
This is one of those things everyone says about the city they live or grew up in. However, when people talk about how great the food scene is in Seattle, it’s based in fact, not opinion.
The city is known for its love and support for local farmers and local produce. The people are also quite heavy on sustainable production, implying that the food is organic and naturally sourced.
If you’re a foodie who loves to experience and experiment with the food in the city they live in, Seattle will fascinate your palate.
Seattle Is a Smart City
Seattle was named America’s smartest city in 2018, but it’s not how you think. Research shows that close to 50% of all adults in Seattle hold bachelor’s degrees. This is the highest percentage of any city in the United States, making Seattle, quite literally, the smartest city.
But this isn’t just one of those statistics.
Seattle is home to intellectuals and brilliant individuals that work in tech, engineering, medicine, and other related fields. These people are at the helm of innovation and development, thus keep driving the city to higher heights.
Did we mention they make for fascinating conversations?
Take the Leap
Moving to a new state, or even city is a rather stressful and doubt-filled process.
For one thing, you may not be sure that you’re making the right decision. If you’re nearing your impending move to Seattle, don’t worry – you’ll love Emerald City.
Or maybe you won’t. But one thing’s for sure, you won’t know unless you find out!