Washington state was among the top 10 states people moved to in 2021, coming in No. 8. And every year, Seattle itself attracts hundreds of thousands of people looking to call the Emerald City home.
Seattle’s appeal makes a lot of sense considering all this Pacific Northwest city has to offer. This one major city seems to have it all — luxurious greenery, performing arts and a huge music scene, just to name a few.
Everyone seems to love Seattle living despite (or because of) its cloudy skies. If you’re considering a move to Seattle, we want you to know everything about being a renter here. We’ll walk you through everything from where to find fresh seafood to housing prices in the best neighborhoods of Seattle.
After reading this article you’ll be ready to mix and mingle with the Seattle residents in no time! Let’s go.
An overview of Seattle
You may have fallen in love with the Seattle city limits and all it has to offer, but it’s smart to know more concrete details about the local economy and life in your potential new city before making the move official.
After all, your tourist days are numbered and you’ll be a resident. You’ll need to know things like population size, job opportunities, income rates and the average cost of living in Seattle compared to other major cities.
- Population: 737,015
- Population per square mile: 7,250.9
- Unemployment rate: 3.5
- Median income: $97,185
- Studio average rent: $1,609
- One-bedroom average rent: $2,222
- Two-bedroom average rent: $3,183
Popular neighborhoods in the Emerald City
Moving to the Emerald City is a big deal, but choosing a neighborhood in the Seattle area is quite another story. From the hustle and bustle of Seattle center to Capitol Hill to the laid-back and quiet aura of Queen Anne, there’s a lot of diversity across Seattle neighborhoods and it’s important to find an area in Seattle where home prices fit your needs.
To help you on your journey to becoming a Seattle resident, we’re going to highlight some of the best neighborhoods to consider.
Capitol Hill
A popular neighborhood among college students and young spirits, Capitol Hill offers an exciting nightlife and music scene. In fact, grunge music was born in this neighborhood with pop culture phenomenons like Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam making musical history here.
Living in Capitol Hill you’ll have endless opportunities to try new restaurants, coffee shops or bars. After you enjoy great food and drinks, listen to some music or check out the local shops, which are plentiful.
Capitol Hill residents can pay a lot or a little in rent, depending on which apartment they choose. This neighborhood is one of the wealthiest with “Millionaires Row” running along 14th Avenue to Volunteer Park, but you can also find rent that’s less than the national average in this neighborhood, too.
People like the Capitol Hill neighborhood for its downtown feel and endless things to do. It’s a very diverse neighborhood. Plus, you’ll have great views of the Seattle skyline.
Central District
Located in the eastern part of the city, the Central District is home to the greatest variety of racially and ethnically diverse communities. Historically, this neighborhood is a major hub for African-American businesses. In Seattle alone, there are 16,547 minority-owned firms.
With access to public transportation, a variety of outdoor activities and a host of art exhibits close by, people like Central District for its diversity, lush evergreen forests and parks and proximity to the Seattle metropolitan area.
Fun fact: Jimi Hendricks and Bruce Lee grew up in Central District, Seattle.
Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is a great neighborhood that many Seattle residents call home. Located in the south part of the city, it’s a great place for young families and outdoor enthusiasts alike!
Located within the neighborhood is Jefferson Park, which is one of the largest parks in the city. Here, you’ll find tennis courts, skate parks, walking trails and amazing views of greater Seattle. You can also get to Dr. Jose Rizal Park easily.
Beacon Hills was the business headquarters of tech giant, Amazon. For 10 years, Amazon was in the Pacific Medical Center building. Beacon Hills is a solid neighborhood with rent comparable to most cities.
Green Lake
Named after the northern Seattle lake, which serves as its centerpiece, Green Lake is a city in the north-central part of the city.
Green Lake neighborhood is a solid neighborhood for families. You can feel like you’re in the outer suburbs while still being close to downtown Seattle itself. The neighborhood has good schools and beautiful parks. Here, you’ll enjoy walking around Green Lake itself.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne is a northwest neighborhood and is a great place for retirees or people who like a slower pace of life. It’s one of the most competitive areas in the housing market because of its charm and location.
This affluent neighborhood is near the Space Needle and has amazing views of Seattle. People love this neighborhood because it’s far enough away from Downtown Seattle that you get quaint, suburban charm while being close enough to enjoy the perks of big city living in Seattle.
West Seattle
West Seattle is another great neighborhood located in, drumroll please, West Seattle. This is primarily a residential area that’s close to Puget Sound. People who like water sports should consider this neighborhood because you can easily visit Alki Beach and sunbathe, swim or even kayak.
These are just some of Seattle’s neighborhoods where you can choose to live. Each neighborhood makes Seattle the great, diverse city that it is. When trying to determine where to live in the Emerald City, make sure to consider location, rental prices and proximity to the Seattle center.
The pros of moving to Seattle
If you’re moving to Seattle, you must already find many things attractive about Seattle culture compared to other cities. One of the most popular cities in Washington state, we could make an endless pro list about the perks of living in the Queen City of the Pacific Northwest.
However, for the sake of time, we’ll highlight some of our reasons to move to this city.
Beautiful scenery
With views of the Puget Sound and heights that allow you to see the skyline, Seattle is one of the most beautiful Pacific Northwest cities. The city serves up an abundance of natural treasures ranging from lakes and beaches to parks and grasslands. Plus, the Cascade Mountain Range is only a short trip away.
Speaking of lakes, there are several nearby. You’ve got Lake Washington, Green Lake, Lake Union and Hidden Lake. Enjoy water sports or the simple nature of the glistening water itself.
Next, you’ve got amazing mountain ranges, most notable is Mount Rainier National Park. This national park has breathtaking overviews, glaciers, wildflowers and hiking trails. Not far from the city, you can escape the bustle of downtown Seattle and enjoy spectacular views.
Prime public transit and walkability
Seattle is known for its great public transportation and light rail system. You can easily beat rush hour and get around the city using buses, streetcars, bikes, ferries, the light rail or the monorail.
You can land at Seattle Tacoma international airport and take public transit to Pioneer Square. From there, take a ferry to Bainbridge Island for the afternoon. Whether you’re going from the airport back home or from home to the city center, you can easily get around relying on public transit.
The city has a walk score of 86 so it’s easy to get around on foot, as well.
Unbeatable coffee culture
Ask any Seattleite if they drink coffee, and their jaw will likely drop in response. It’s less a question of “Do you drink coffee?” and more “How much coffee do you drink?” Not only is there at least one Starbucks store in nearly every Seattle neighborhood, but there’s also a plethora of locally-owned coffee houses scattered around the city.
Did you know that Starbucks originated in Seattle? That’s right! You can check out the original Starbucks store located near Pike’s Place Market.
Higher education opportunities
There are several top universities in or near Seattle, too. U.S. News and World Report consistently rank schools in Seattle among the best in the nation. If you’re looking for a city where education is a top priority, consider living in Seattle.
You’ll find a plethora of schooling options like universities, colleges, liberal art schools, trade schools and even the infectious disease research institute. Some of the top schools in this area are Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, Seattle Central College and the University of Washington.
In fact, there’s an entire district — the U District, or University District — named after the schools close by. This area is near the University of Washington campus and you’ll find a large selection of coffee shops, bars, restaurants and hangouts for students to relax at.
The cons of moving to Seattle
As much as we would love to tell you that living in Seattle is all sunshine and rainbows, this is simply not the case in the rainy city. Just like everywhere else in the world, there are drawbacks to calling Seattle home. Whether these cons are deal breakers is a personal decision for you to make.
Seattle Freeze
The first con that we feel is important to mention is something known as the Seattle Freeze. While this may sound like a weather-related concern, it actually refers to a social phenomenon. People who are native to Seattle tend to give off a cold shoulder vibe. Seattleites are not necessarily unfriendly, but they certainly do keep to themselves. As a result, it’s challenging for new residents to make friends.
If you’re moving to Seattle, just be aware that the Seattle Freeze is a thing and take the necessary steps required to make new friends and cozy up to your neighbors.
Overpopulation
With major businesses like Providence Health & Services and tech giants like Facebook, Google, Amazon and Tableau ruling the downtown area of Seattle, the city is quite a bustling place. While the influx of big companies and major corporations has benefitted Seattle’s local economy, it has, unfortunately, created an unavoidable overpopulation issue.
As more and more businesses started opening offices in Seattle, job opportunities began popping up left and right, attracting new people to the city. This resulted in a significant spike in the population, especially between 2014 and 2019, when the city experienced an annualized growth rate of 2.38 percent — the third-highest in the nation among cities larger than 250,000 residents, according to AdvisorSmith.
Housing costs
The cost of living in Seattle is 156.7, meaning housing is 56.7 percent more expensive in Seattle than anywhere else in the United States. The main reason for this high cost of living is the influx of job opportunities. However, it’s not as expensive as San Francisco, which is much more expensive compared to Seattle.
With so many people eager to move to Seattle, landlords recognized that they could charge more for properties and rentals because people are willing to pay these higher rates. While living in Seattle is more expensive compared to other expensive cities, there are several high-paying jobs available that can help counter the expensive rent and cost of living in the Seattle area.
Things to do in Seattle
Whether you’re a first-time tourist or a Seattle native, there are endless things to do when living in Seattle. We wanted to outline some of the most popular, albeit cliché, things to do when you’re sleepless in Seattle.
Visit Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is in the heart of Seattle. It’s a must-see area full of restaurants, unique shops and bars. The highlight might be the subterranean Underground Tour. After the Great Seattle Fire in 1889, this entire area burned to the ground and the city was rebuilt on top of the old city. During the tour, you can see the remains of the old city underground!
Once you come up from underneath, you can enjoy great food, listen to live street music and peruse the farmers or art market that takes place throughout the year.
Take a kayak tour
Get a different perspective on Seattle from the water by taking a guided kayak tour. There are many options, including tours of Elliot Bay, sunset paddles and even special tours to see orcas in June.
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
This charming island is about 30 minutes away by ferry and is well worth a day trip. Ferry across the Puget Sound to the island where you can explore boutique shops and enjoy delicious, fresh seafood on the water.
Wander around Chinatown international district
Chinatown is the main hub for the Asian-American communities living in Seattle. The Chinatown international district is particularly known for its great food. As you’re wandering around town, stop here for good food and unique shops full of imported goods.
Listen to the Seattle Opera and Seattle symphony
Seattle is known for its music scene. Whether you’re listening to grunge music on Capitol Hill or listening to the renowned Seattle opera and symphony, music is part of the Seattle culture. You can purchase tickets for an evening show, sit back, close your eyes and enjoy the melodic notes of the opera singers or symphony playing.
Eat at Pike’s Place Market
You can’t live in Seattle without going to the Seattle Center of Pike’s Place Market. Here, you’ll see the famous fisherman throwing their catch back and forth. You’ll see the beautiful, fresh flowers up and down the market and taste the amazing potpourri of food like clam chowder or freshly-baked donuts. Take a tourist photo in front of the sign and you’re a Seattle local now!
Exploring the Pacific Northwest
The PNW or Pacific Northwest is one of the most desirable locations for people to move to. If you live in Seattle, you can explore the lakes, mountains, hiking trails and forests right in your own backyard.
In addition to what Seattle has to offer, you’ll be close to other areas of the PNW like Portland, OR. People like living in Seattle because it’s easy to travel to Canada to see amazing locations there or travel down the coast for other rainy cities.
Living in Seattle allows you to easily explore the PNW with day trips or weekend road trips. The coast is at your fingertips.
How to move to Seattle
Once you decide that Seattle is the place for you, it’s time to start planning your move. If you’re searching for free moving quotes and additional information about moving to Seattle, come check out our online Moving Center.
All you have to do is let us know where you’re moving from, when you plan to move and how much you are taking with you. We’ll walk you through the rest. Soon, you’ll be living in Seattle and will become a local in no time.
