Moving to the Emerald City
Leaving the Lone Star State behind can be hard. But a new and better life expects you in Seattle. Situated on the west coast of the US, Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington with a population of 725,000 people. This seaport city is well known for its tolerance and liberal views, as well as for being a food and coffee heaven. All bookworms and technology lovers are also welcome in America’s Queen City.
Compared to Texas arid and humid weather, Seattle has a Mediterranean climate with warm, mild summers and cool, rainy winters. Summers in Seattle are relatively dry, while, in general, Seattle’s rain is more like a mist that doesn’t necessarily require an umbrella. Most people with umbrellas in Seattle are tourists. So if you want to avoid looking like one, just leave your umbrella at home.
Housing and Living Costs
The cost of living in Seattle is more than 20% above the national average. If we compare Seattle to Houston, for example, according to Budget Direct, rent prices in Seattle are 49.45% higher than in Houston. When it comes to utility costs, they are almost the same but slightly higher in Seattle.
The city of Seattle is made up of many neighborhoods that differ quite a lot from one another, and picking the right neighborhood for you and your family can be a bit hard at first. Once you do a bit of research on your own and select a few neighborhoods, start looking for apartments to rent or buy. Among the most popular neighborhoods are Ballard, Capitol Hill, Fremont, Greenlake, Issaquah Highlands, Magnolia, Phinney Ridge, Queen Anne, Wallingford, and West Seattle.
Economy and Employment
Driven by various old industrial companies, and new companies in the field of Internet and technology, service, design, and clean technology, Seattle’s economy has only become stronger after the Great Recession. The Port of Seattle, which is the 8th largest port in the US, is also one of the key factors behind the city’s rich economy.
In 2010, the city government planned to make Seattle the first “climate neutral” city in North America with the clear goal of releasing 0% gas emissions by 2030. Home to five Fortune 500 companies in 2017, there are plenty of other large companies headquartered in this city such as Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Nordstrom, Costco, Expedia, Expeditors International, Boeing, Paccar, and Weyerhaeuser.
Seattle attractions
Do you love to swim, bike, snowboard, ski, surf, hike, or simply stroll around the city to find popular and unpopular attractions on your own? Seattle is the perfect place for that. As soon as you have some free time, make sure to visit the Space Needle, Bill Gates House, the Seattle Great Wheel, Original Starbucks, Pike Place Market, and museums such as Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum, the Museum of History and Industry, and the Seattle Art Museum.
If you’re lucky, you might even find housing near these parks: Gasworks Park, Madison Park, Discovery Park, and Magnuson Park. In any case, all of them are worth a visit.
Moving to Seattle with a car
There are two ways you can register your vehicle in Seattle: by sending all the paperwork by mail or by submitting the required documents in person. As long as you submit them within 30 days after establishing your move to Seattle, you’ll be fine. Unlike in some other cities, you won’t need to have a car insurance to register your car. Although, eventually, you will have to get it insured if you don’t want to get fined. For more information, visit the official website of the Washington State Department of Licensing.