Art of Living Seattle Art of Living Seattle Deswami
This guide to moving to Seattle looks beyond the stereotypes of this Pacific Northwest, metropolitan gem. Here's what yous demand to know, from a local'due south perspective.
There are many great reasons to consider moving to Seattle. The world-class schools, hot chore market place, unique culture and endless opportunities for outdoor gamble are but the tip of the iceberg at this Pacific Northwest gem.
Seattle is consistently ranked among the ten best places to live in the United States past U.South. News, and for good reason. Not but is Seattle surrounded by lush evergreen forests, but the urban center is famous for existence environmentally friendly. Plus, its residents earn above-boilerplate incomes.
Seattle has a reputation for beingness a rainy city. While Seattle technically accumulates less rainfall in a year than Houston, New York, or Atlanta, the winter is often filled with grey and drizzle. Still, at that place's zippo ameliorate than summer in Seattle. High temperatures and depression humidity are a perfect mix for spending a day at the lake or going on a hike.
For these reasons and more than, we think moving to Seattle is a fantastic idea. Below, you lot'll learn the best places to live in Seattle, how much it costs to alive in the urban center, where to find jobs, and much more. This guide volition teach you all y'all need to know most moving to Seattle. Keep reading to find out what makes the Emerald City so great.
Seattle Neighborhoods
With over 100 distinct neighborhoods, at that place's certainly a place for each of us to phone call dwelling house in Seattle.
Early Seattle neighborhoods were founded by immigrants who settled in small communities. These communities were eventually connected by carriage roads and trolley lines. From these pocket-size settlements, neighborhoods evolved with the urban center every bit information technology grew. This is why each neighborhood has a personality all its ain, which makes Seattle such a bang-up identify to live.
"Each neighborhood has unique differences that go far special," says real manor broker Jeff Reynolds on his Seattle-focused urban living web log UrbanCondoSpaces. Jeff suggests that about people who move to Seattle are looking to go a function of a thriving community. He likens Seattle to New York in that in that location are boroughs or municipalities that create vibrant diverseness throughout different areas of the city.
Overall, Seattle has 18 distinct districts, each of which is divided into smaller neighborhoods. Learning Seattle'southward different localities is a peachy way to brainstorm your search for a new home. Hither are several of the most unique and pop Seattle neighborhoods.
The Best Places to Live in Seattle
For Students: The Academy District
This neighborhood is where the students come to live and learn. The University Commune contains several educationally focused communities including University Park, Greek Row, University Heights and the Brooklyn Addition. The U District's epicenter of activity is on University Way. Students call information technology "the Ave." The Ave has many blocks of student-friendly cafes, bars, street food establishments, restaurants and hip retailers.
Centered effectually the University of Washington, this area tends to depict a younger crowd. Nonetheless, many older Seattleites stick around. This is especially true for postgraduates who stay involved with academia or those who work in the nearby hospitals, University of Washington Medical Middle and Seattle Children'southward Hospital.
For Young Couples: Capitol Hill
A densely populated neighborhood in the middle of the urban center, Capitol Hill is all about the hustle and bustle of metropolitan living. This is where the crossroads of the entertainment scene, the counterculture movement and commerce collide. Seattleites hail Capitol Colina as the birthplace of the urban center's original grunge civilisation. Information technology has remained the city'south most prominent arts district.
If boutiques, block parties and on-the-edge eateries are your things, this is the neighborhood for you. The spectrum of wealth on Capitol Hill varies from low-income housing to Millionaire's Row, making this a community for everybody. The listing of things to exercise here is endless, as are the types of people you volition meet.
For a relaxed summer afternoon, stroll up and downward the Pike/Pine corridor and shop local stores. You lot'll find sustainable fashion, bicycle accessories and house plants. Take a walk around Volunteer Park's circle tower, vista framed reservoir or botanical solarium. And so take hold of ane of the summertime theatre shows at the park'southward amphitheater stage. The opportunities are endless!
For Families: West Seattle
About a metropolis away from the urban center, Due west Seattle is separated from the rest of Seattle by the Duwamish River. It's still shut to the skyscrapers. Plus, West Seattle is the gateway to places similar Vashon Island — just a quick ferry ride away.
The communities in West Seattle feature an abundance of cute parks and embankment-laden waterfront. Public schools and infrastructure are tiptop-notch in this district. As it's the oldest of Seattle'south neighborhoods, the area is steeped in history, too.
For Retirees: Queen Anne
Rising higher up the hustle and bustle of downtown life, the Queen Anne district is chock with the effectively things in life. This affluent slice of bourgeoisie is dwelling to some of the all-time views in the city. Residents admire the cute parks, landscaped gardens, and historical landmarks that beautify the surface area.
Upscale homes and thriving retirement communities are perfect for those who desire condolement and luxury. The social agenda is ever full in Queen Anne. Y'all have live theater shows, neighborhood farmers' markets and the ever-entertaining Seattle Eye only outside your front door.
The Cost of Living in Seattle
Living in Seattle is almost twice equally expensive equally the U.s.' average. In other words, Seattle one of the more than expensive cities in the country.
The largest expense is housing, whether y'all're renting or purchasing a home. Transportation is also a significant price for Seattleites, but the exorbitant costs end there. Still, in many other categories, such as groceries and healthcare, Seattle residents pay a similar amount to many other Americans.
If you're able to find a steady job, the higher costs can be offset by relatively loftier incomes. We'll dig into that in a bit, but first, allow's look at why housing in Seattle costs and then much.
The Housing Market place: To Rent or to Buy
The average home-buyer in Seattle is paying nearly iii times the United States' average for a dwelling.
These loftier prices issue in loftier mortgage payments, which in plough results in higher monthly costs for renters.
When it comes to average rent, the costs are still loftier, merely not quite equally dramatic as the prices for homeownership. In general, Seattle residents tin wait to pay around twice equally much as the national average.
"Seattle's housing market is very competitive," says President Marco Santarelli of Norada Real Estate Investments on the company'south blog. He attributes a portion of this to an increase in high-paying jobs in the growing tech industry effectually Seattle. As nosotros'll hash out, the Seattle area is home to corporate powerhouses like Amazon, Microsoft, and Expedia. The competitive nature of the housing market place and the increasingly lucrative jobs market combine to send domicile prices soaring.
Seattle'due south Stellar Job Market
Counterbalancing the pricey Seattle housing market, Seattle residents earn above-average incomes, making roughly 12% more than than a typical American. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that hourly wages and yearly salaries are both well above national averages. This includes a significantly higher up-average minimum wage.
Incomes for top-tier jobs have skyrocketed due to increased demand for highly skilled and well-educated employees in Seattle's burgeoning tech industry.
Tech Giants
Forbes has ranked Seattle every bit the top metropolis in America for technology jobs. Nation-leading chore growth in tech-specific and Stalk-related fields are to thank for that. Tech businesses abound in Seattle, including everything from investor-funded startups to well-established tech giants.
Microsoft and Amazon lead the style in the Seattle tech industry. Boeing, Articulation Base Lewis-McChord and the University of Washington fill up out the city'southward top five employer list. Other big tech organizations of annotation include Expedia, Tableau Software, and Nintendo of America.
Retailers Based in Seattle
Information technology'southward true that several of the biggest companies in the Emerald City are tech-related. Seattle is also home to names in the retail, food and service industries that phone call the Pacific Northwest home. This includes Nordstrom, Tommy Bahama and Zulily.
Seattle is the 11th largest metropolitan economic system in America, according to IHS Global Insight. Both the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are major gateways for trade into Asia. For this reason, the expanse is an appealing place for retail conglomerates.
As the earth has fallen in honey with java, they've fallen for Seattle. Coffee businesses like Starbucks, Seattle'south All-time and Tully's are known around the world. Nevertheless, they even so base their operations effectually Washington's Puget Sound. Visit Pike Place Marketplace to run across ane of the offset Starbucks stores. They served coffee hither long before the company made it on the Fortune 500 list.
Other big retail brands such as Costco and REI as well have their headquarters in the Seattle area, adding to the corporate diversity of the region.
Schools and Universities
Seattle proudly holds the title of America's most educated big city, according to the Seattle Times. The statistics show that four out of every five people who move to Seattle have a college degree. Three out of every 5 Seattle-educated students start college within a year of their high school graduation.
Over 500 schools call Seattle home, including a diverse mix of public and private institutions.
Seven universities and colleges reside inside Seattle'south borders, with 14 others located within 40 miles of the metropolis. The University of Washington is the largest and near well-known institute for higher learning in the Seattle metropolitan surface area. Seattle Academy, Seattle Pacific University, and Seattle Central College also house large student populations.
The University of Washington has an outstanding graduation charge per unit, with over 80% of students consistently earning a degree. Among Seattle residents 25 and older, 63% have a college degree while 27% have graduate or professional degrees.
Seattle Has the Best Public Transit
Seattle'due south public transportation system is ranked number one in the nation in a study past WalletHub, reported by Business Insider. Many Seattle commuters still rely on cars. However, the diversity, prophylactic and efficiency of Seattle-area public transit make it the best in any major metropolis.
The average workday commute in Seattle is around xxx minutes, which is one of the land'southward longer average commutes. Highway bottlenecks are function of the problem, particularly as more people have moved to the city. As more people opt to employ the unlike public transit options effectually the city, such as the light rails, bus lines, streetcars, monorail and wheel-sharing, the hope is that overall traffic should decrease over time. Plus, public transportation tin can aid save you money on tolls on popular roadways. This is true for the 520 bridge or the SR 99 tunnel.
The Emerald City is looking to double down on its commitment to go light-green. Seattle aims to reduce carbon emissions and further enhance its public transit by replacing "1,400 diesel-hybrid buses with rechargeable electric vehicles," as Mike Lindblom reported to the Seattle Times. The report states that the urban center's goal is to "cut carbon pollution in half past 2030."
The infrastructure for Seattle commuters has undergone significant improvements. The region's Link low-cal rail system has continued expansion to outer suburbs and more inner-urban center neighborhoods. The city of Seattle continually invests in the prophylactic and convenience of their cyclist commuters. We have excellent biking facilities that are comparable to those of Europe.
Things to Do in Seattle
The wildly diverse mural and eclectic mix of people creates countless opportunities for fun and recreation in Seattle. Nosotros're sure you'll always exist able to find something new to practice. Here's a list of a few popular attractions to assistance get y'all started.
Museums
Immature or former, it's e'er great to acquire something new. As we've already established, Seattle is America'due south most educated big city, and that knowledge extends beyond the college campuses.
You'll take a broad range of opportunities to learn in Seattle. The Pacific Science Center provides a fun learning feel for the entire family. They offer interstellar discovery at its planetarium, immersive virtual reality adventures and larger-than-life IMAX experience.
The Museum of Flying, an interactive air and space museum, offers traditional museum tours. The Boeing Academy for Stem Learning provides enhanced education experiences , delivering user-driven education effectually space, flight and robotics.
Seattle's Puget Sound provides an aquatic temper that is wholly unique to the Pacific Northwest. You can acquire more most life under the sea at the Seattle Aquarium.
For a unique museum experience, check out the Chihuly Garden and Drinking glass Museum in the Seattle Middle. Delight your senses with an array of gravity-defying glass sculptures. Afterward winding through the indoor museum, end your tour in the open-air glass museum. It has spectacular views of the Space Needle.
For local-favorites, popular into the Frye Museum to view the permanent and rotating exhibitions of modern and classical art. Or afterwards your time picnicking in Volunteer Park, visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM). Yous'll find cute collections of classic and modern Asian art. Even the building facade of the SAAM is a piece of work of art itself. It features art deco architecture and grandiose camel sculptures.
Finally, if music is your matter, bank check out the Museum of Pop Culture. Formerly chosen the "Experience Music Project," the museum has a giant statue with hundreds of guitars, exhibits showcasing Seattle legends similar Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Kobain and studio rooms where you lot can make and record your own music on in-business firm instruments.
Seattle Sightseeing
The sights of Seattle never abound old, even for long-term residents. Let'south take a expect at some of the nigh iconic Seattle landmarks.
The Space Needle is undoubtedly Seattle'southward most recognizable building, and the view from its observation deck is breathtaking. Interactive digital elements and a rotating restaurant await at the top. Information technology's the best manner to feel the Seattle skyline in full.
A Seattle hallmark since 2012, the Seattle Great Bike is a cute highlight along the dynamic boardwalk. This recent addition to the metropolis skyline is a fabled highlight of the waterfront — one you won't presently forget.
The Washington State Ferries are as iconic to Seattle equally anything else. Though many residents use these ferries for their workday commute, you can savour them for recreational purposes. The boats travel to destinations throughout the Seattle area. Make sure to plan ahead to notice the most exciting itinerary. If you move to Seattle, farries may become a function of your commute.
Seattle's Pike Place Market is the city's most visited attraction, cartoon people from effectually the world. You'll see the famous fish markets, a wealth of delicious restaurants, and the Gum Wall. Add together your own slice of mucilage to the strange and delightful slice of public artwork.
If y'all want something a piddling off the browbeaten path, head to Melrose Market place. Information technology'due south Pike Place's fiddling cousin between Throughway Place and Capitol Hill. Melrose Market has fewer tourists, but still offers a delightful combination of restaurants, cocktail bars, and retailers.
Dining and Entertainment
You'll never run out of means to indulge in Seattle. From sky-high fine dining to sourdough clam chowder bowls on the waterfront, a wondrous assortment of food speckles the shoreline of this great Washington city.
Bated from the diverse restaurant scene, Seattle is known for its gourmet beverages. The Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room is your adventure to indulge in the nigh luxurious and rare coffees Starbucks has to offering. Choose betwixt espresso flights, small-batch cold brew and specialty beverages like the Undertow — espresso suspended in a higher place chilled half-and-half and vanilla-edible bean syrup.
Delve into the more nuanced java scene of Seattle and curate your ain java tour of local roasters. Elm Java Roasters is a prominent roaster that stands out equally i of Seattle's premier light edible bean roasters. It is located in Pioneer Square and was founded in 2013. Olympia Coffee Company has two java shops in Seattle, one in Colombia City and the other in West Seattle. Olympia Coffee Company has won a number of accolades for its artisan roasts, which are served at their impeccably designed cafes.
Just outside of the city, Woodinville Wine State is a growing wine collective, which is open up for tasting. Plus, make certain to cheque out the Pacific Northwest's growing microbrew beer scene. Seattle is rich with independent breweries – some large, some modest, and all with interesting and unique brews to discover. Check out the Fremont and Ballard neighborhoods for a wide selection of craft breweries. Our favorites are Aslan, Hales, Fremont Brewing, Atrophy and Peddler.
Hidden Seattle Gems
While there are plenty of exciting things to practise and places to see around Seattle, at that place are as well several special gems worth finding.
The Seattle Clandestine is one of those lesser-known subconscious spectacles. When the city burned downwards in 1889, the new brick and mortar construction was built atop the rubble. A ghost city however lives underneath the busy streets.
The Ballard Farmers' Market place is a destination for friends, couples, and families. Every Sunday on Ballard Artery, farmers and purveyors showcase their goods in booths lining 1 of Seattle'south virtually charming streets. With local musicians, street nutrient vendors, artists, and artisans, the "Sunday Market" is a sweet activity that will enhance a few hours.
Another fun visit is the Center for Wooden Boats. It offers educational exhibits, fun family boating programs and a Sail for Free Sunday event. Volunteer skippers accept passengers out for unforgettable voyages.
For the perfect view of Seattle, caput to Queen Anne'south Kerry Park. With views of Elliot Bay, downtown, and the Space Needle, yous're in for a view you will never tire of.
Events & Festivals
Once yous're settled into Seattle, you'll want to swoop right into the metropolis'due south exciting art scene. An annual favorite since the early 1970s, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival celebrates creative pieces in almost every art form. Experience the performing arts to literary achievements and outstanding music hither.
The freshest festival in the metropolis is the Capitol Loma Block Party (CHBP). CHBP is geared toward all ages and celebrates the Capitol Hill customs'south art, activism, retailers and eateries. The music lineup that adorns the festival is curated with internationally and nationally recognized musical artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The Seattle International Movie Festival is a month-long extravaganza and the largest film festival in the United States. Cinephiles won't want to miss the extensive list of showings and events that recognize classic and contemporary films alike. The showings and premieres occur at all the historic theaters around the city. The tour is a treat in and of itself.
Refract is the newest experience on the cake. It looks to bring the Pacific Northwest's proliferating glass artwork scene to eye stage. Blown drinking glass displays, educational glass-making lessons, and glass-focused performances form this unique experience.
If you're willing to travel a bit exterior the urban center, Sasquatch and Paradiso are fantastic music festivals. It's located at the Gorge Amphitheater, simply a few hours due east of Seattle. Brand sure to wear your dancing shoes.
Seattle Moving Tips for New Residents
New residents can exhale a sigh of relief. The City of Seattle has done its best to make your transition every bit seamless every bit possible. The metropolis's own Seattle Newcomer's Guide is your ultimate resource for settling into your new Seattle abode.
All of the information you demand is organized for your reading pleasance. Everything from acquiring parking permits for your moving truck to contacting local utility companies and deciphering the public transit arrangement – it'southward all there. Don't forget essential steps such equally applying for a Washington State driver's license and registering to vote in your new neighborhood.
Seattle'southward got yous covered on city-specific tasks. You'll also want to cheque out our ultimate moving checklist to make sure you properly prepare in the weeks and months before your motion.
Prepare to Movement to Seattle?
Seattle is a bang-up place to call habitation. Merely let'due south face it – moving can exist a pain. If you need actress space or assistance, Life Storage offers self storage in Seattle, along with moving truck rentals.
We know you're going to enjoy Seattle and all of the awesome experiences you're bound to have. Expert luck!
Updates:
- Originally published on November 8, 2019.
- Revised on May xiv, 2020, with new information from Seattle expert, Michael Bjorn Huseby.
- Revised on April twenty, 2021, with new information from Seattle skillful, Kyla Stelling.
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