Every year, thousands of people move to Seattle, and with good reason. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, it has an exciting tech ecosystem, and the weather is magnificent (during summer, at least). So, if you’re considering becoming a Seatteite in the near future, we’ve compiled a list of 5 things you need to know before packing your bags and moving to The Emerald City.
- The summers are beautiful in Seattle
During the summer months, Seattle has the perfect combination of warmth, low humidity, and beautiful views. The weather is great for outdoor activities, and the city has a lot of parks and green spaces to enjoy the best of the summer.In addition to the parks, there’s a long list of things you can do in the Seattle outdoors. You may choose to hike along the hundreds of trails around the city, and there’s an active scene for kayaking, parasailing, and water skiing.
- Seattle is home to a growing tech community
If you’re moving to the city in search of job opportunities, then you’re making a smart choice. Seattle has a huge tech community, and is home to some of the biggest names in the industry, including Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, and Google. Even if you’re not a developer, these companies hire thousands of non-tech staff and administrative officers. Furthermore, they foster an ecosystem that has contributed to Seattle becoming one of the fastest growing cities in the US.
- The cost of living is lower than you’d expect
Despite being a large urban center, Seattle’s cost of living remains lower than those of its counterparts – like New York City, San Francisco, and LA. This is a major consideration for many of the people moving to the city, as it means you can find affordable housing in the outskirts. It also means you pay less for utilities, food, and so on. Similarly, Seattle charges no income tax, but the sales tax rate is quite high – around 10.25% if you combine the figures for state, county, and city. So, it evens out in the end.
- Seattle is student-friendly
The city is home to three highly rated universities and many other good schools from pre-K to the 12th grade and colleges. It’s ranked in the top 5 US cities for education, and whether you’re a parent or a student, you can be certain of a solid educational support system.
- The city is big on coffee, beer, and sports
Perhaps because of its active tech scene, student community, or just because Seattleites like to have fun, the city is well known for its great coffee, beer and sports. It’d be hard to find someone who is not passionate about at least one of these. There are thousands of coffee houses in Seattle, breweries and taprooms are spread across the city, and the Seahawks and Huskies provide entertainment in the sporting front – with some support from the burgeoning Seattle Sounders.
Final note
As you prepare for your big move down to The Emerald City, we hope some of the points we outlined above have you tingling with anticipation. If you need the services of a moving company, don’t hesitate to reach out to TWO MEN AND A MOVING VAN. You can get the ball rolling with a quick estimate – just call 253-215-1850 or fill this form.