{"id":1789,"date":"2016-06-16T15:39:48","date_gmt":"2016-06-16T22:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=1789"},"modified":"2024-03-20T06:42:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T13:42:16","slug":"moving-to-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/moving-to-seattle\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to Seattle? Here&#8217;s Literally Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re moving to Seattle, whether it\u2019s across the state or across the country, and you have no idea where to get started. What\u2019s the weather like? Where should you live, shop, and eat? Can you get by with just a bike, or do you need a car to survive?<\/p>\n<p>Before you have your pre-move panic attack, calm down.<\/p>\n<p>We got in touch with local bloggers, dug into all the stats, combed through Yelp, and generally plumbed the depths of the internet, to bring you everything you could possibly want to know about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#weather\">Seattle weather<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#culture\">Seattle\u2019s city culture<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cost\">Cost of living in Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#jobs\">Job market and popular industries in Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#neighborhoods\">The neighborhoods of Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cars\">The cost of car ownership in Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#transit\">Seattle public transit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#walking\">Biking and walking in Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#realestate\">Seattle real estate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#moving\">Actually moving to Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#misc\">&#8230;and everything else you wanted to know about Seattle, that doesn\u2019t fit into any of the other categories<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Lifestyle: What\u2019s living in Seattle actually like?<\/h2>\n<h2><a name=\"weather\"><\/a>Weather in Seattle<\/h2>\n<p>Being so close to the Pacific, it\u2019s no surprise that Seattle\u2019s climate is classified as oceanic, with cool, wet winters and warm, relatively dry summers.<\/p>\n<p>The warmest months are August, July, and June, with average highs ranging from 69-73F, and the coldest months are January, February, and December, with average lows ranging from 36-38F.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve probably heard about the famous Seattle rains, and while it doesn\u2019t necessarily rain all day, every day, there are 152 days\/year with rainfall, on average. The amount of rain varies year to year, with no strong trends one way or the other over the last 25 years:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1791\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1791\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1791 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-1024x615.png\" alt=\"prepare for rain if moving to seattle with annual precipitation\" width=\"1024\" height=\"615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-1024x615.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-64x38.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-192x115.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-432x259.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-775x465.png 775w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-500x300.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-800x480.png 800w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/prepare-for-rain-if-moving-to-seattle-with-annual-precipitation.png 1452w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1791\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleweatherblog.com\/rain-stats\/\">Seattle Weather Blog<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The rainiest months are December, January, and November, averaging 5-5.43 inches of rainfall.<\/p>\n<p>Keeping this in mind, when you move to Seattle, you\u2019ll want to waterproof your suede shoes ahead of time, and invest in a good <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestproducts.com\/fashion\/g1247\/chic-raincoats-for-women\/\">raincoat<\/a> and maybe even a pair of galoshes for the really rainy days.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, even though it\u2019s relatively damp most of the year, the cooler temperatures mean that mold growth isn\u2019t usually a problem as long as the property is well-ventilated and maintained.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll still want to make sure all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doh.wa.gov\/YouandYourFamily\/HealthyHome\/Contaminants\/Mold\/RentersLandlordsandMold\">mold testing guidelines are being followed<\/a>, though, and <a href=\"https:\/\/homeguides.sfgate.com\/tell-black-mold-hiding-walls-45680.html\">keep an eye out for the telltale signs of mold<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"culture\"><\/a>Seattle&#8217;s City Culture<\/h3>\n<p>Seattle ranks among <a href=\"https:\/\/wallethub.com\/edu\/best-worst-cities-for-singles\/9015\">the best cities in the country for single people<\/a>, but there\u2019s plenty of family-friendly neighborhoods as well. View Ridge, Laurelhurst, and Ravenna are ranked by the Seattle Sun Times as the three most family-friendly neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p>Blogger SeattleAnne has put together a list of <a href=\"https:\/\/seattleanne.com\/seattle-with-kids\">51 things you can do around the city with your children<\/a>, and Red Tricycle also has <a href=\"https:\/\/redtri.com\/events\/seattle\/\">a calendar of family-friendly events<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle is also known for being especially LGBT friendly, being on par with San Francisco for <a href=\"https:\/\/williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu\/visualization\/lgbt-stats\/?topic=LGBT&amp;area=53#density\">the amount of people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.seattletimes.com\/fyi-guy\/2013\/09\/27\/seattle-overtakes-san-francisco-as-no-1-city-for-gay-couples\/\">the amount of same-sex households in the city.<\/a> For new Seattle residents, that means you can expect a welcoming city, whatever the makeup of your family is like.<\/p>\n<h3>Cultural influences and activities in Seattle include:<\/h3>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xQDgY16SJyo\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Performing arts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Seattle has a lot to offer in the performing arts, with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra being one of the most recorded orchestras in the world (and over a hundred years old). The Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet are also well-regarded, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet school ranks as one of the top three ballet schools in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>The list goes on, with summer and winter chamber music festivals and more.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also a healthy amount of independent theaters and showings of independent films, including the 24-day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.siff.net\/\">Seattle International Film Festival<\/a> (the largest film festival in the United States) which typically takes place from mid-May to mid-June each year.<\/p>\n<p>Other popular Seattle festivals include the <a href=\"https:\/\/fremontfair.com\/\">Fremont Fair<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seafair.org\/\">Seafair Week<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/bumbershoot.com\/\">Bumbershoot<\/a>, although that\u2019s not the whole list \u2014 check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitseattle.org\/things-to-do\/events\/festivals\/\">the complete list of festivals at the Visit Seattle site<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Music<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The city is considered the birthplace of grunge music, with Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam all hailing from Seattle. Alt rock bands ranging from Modest Mouse to Foo Fighters also call it home. If music is your thing, you\u2019ll be able to find shows easily.<br \/>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hTWKbfoikeg\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nSlam poetry<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A little more niche than the previous two categories, but worth mentioning: Seattle is the home to two national poetry champs and two international poetry champs, and has hosted the national Poetry Slam Tournament. There\u2019s also the biennial Seattle Poetry Festival.<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nCoffee culture<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It may not have the historical relevance of Les Deux Magots on St. Germain-des-Pres, but Seattle\u2019s coffee culture has it\u2019s own rich history that rivals any in the U.S. The world\u2019s first Starbucks opened in Seattle in 1971 and today there are 2.5 coffee shops for every 1000 residents of the city.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8109\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8109\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"coffee grounds and espresso in seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle-64x46.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle-192x137.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle-432x309.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coffee-when-moving-to-seattle-500x357.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8109\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Nathan Dumlao \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Well regarded cafes include Bauhaus Book &amp; Coffee, Victrola Coffee, and the kid-friendly Cloud City.<\/p>\n<p>The city&#8217;s focus on the arts means that Seattle has several excellent liberal arts schools, whether that\u2019s something you\u2019re looking at for you or for your child, and plenty of hip, funky neighborhoods to hang out in.<\/p>\n<p><b>Museums <\/b><\/p>\n<p>Seattle is home to several standout museums \u2014 in more ways than one. There\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleartmuseum.org\/\">Seattle Art Museum<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.burkemuseum.org\/\">the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture<\/a>, of course. The Seattle Art Museum hosts collections of both classic and modern art across a variety of mediums, ranging from textile to sculpture to paint, year-round.<\/p>\n<p>The Burke Museum has cultural exhibits, like those highlighting the native Pacific cultures, but also has exhibits featuring dinosaurs and aspects of the natural world (both present and past).<\/p>\n<p>On the less standard side of things, there\u2019s also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.roadsideamerica.com\/story\/15540\">the Giant Shoe Museum<\/a>, located at the Pike Place Market, which is exactly what it sounds like: an odd little museum with a collection that was owned by a man who was obsessed with larger-than-average shoes. Slightly offbeat but much more educational is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.empmuseum.org\/\">the EMP Museum<\/a>, with exhibits ranging from sci-fi to video games to Jimi Hendrix.<\/p>\n<p>The EMP&#8217;s focus on pop culture (and the ideas and risks that create it) makes it a great museum choice for those that tend to be bored with more traditional museum fare. They also have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mopop.org\/\/programs-plus-education\/\">classes and workshops<\/a> for children of all ages, ranging from music therapy camp to teen artist workshops.<\/p>\n<p>Back on the more standard side of museums, history buffs will love <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mohai.org\/\">the Museum of History and Industry<\/a>. If you\u2019re into art, aside from the aforementioned art museum, you should also look at <a href=\"https:\/\/fryemuseum.org\/\">the Frye Art Museum<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificsciencecenter.org\/\">The Pacific Science Center<\/a> is family-friendly and includes life-size robot dinosaurs.<\/p>\n<p>For more ideas, the Visit Seattle site has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitseattle.org\/things-to-do\/arts-culture\/museums\/\">a full list of upcoming museum events<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thrillist.com\/entertainment\/seattle\/seattle-s-best-museums-11-strange-tourist-attractions\">Thrillist has a list of offbeat and unusual museums to check out<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This variety in museums across Seattle means that you\u2019ll always have something interesting to see in your time \u2014 and that any children in your family will have educational <i>and <\/i>entertaining activities you can take them to on the weekends.<\/p>\n<p>Many of these museums host classes, programs, and events for children and adults alike \u2014 a great way to start meeting your new Seattle neighbors!<\/p>\n<p><b>Shopping and style<\/b><br \/>\nDespite the rain potentially limiting your wardrobe choices (or any preconceptions of grungy hipsters!), Seattle has its fair share of stylish people.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itsmydarlin.com\/\">It\u2019s My Darlin\u2019 street style blog<\/a> captures the city\u2019s natives in their various outfits, so you know what type of style you\u2019ll be surrounded by.<\/p>\n<p>There are plenty of other Seattle style blogs to draw your inspiration from, too:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cocokelley.com\/\">Coco+Kelley<\/a> has plenty of interior design inspiration for your new Seattle residence<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sydneylovesfashion.com\/\">Sydney Loves Fashion<\/a> will keep you up to date on all the local sidewalk sales and sample sales<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freshjess.com\/\">Fresh Jess<\/a>, who also does <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freshjess.com\/events\/\">event roundups<\/a> (so you can immediately hop into Seattle culture!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When it comes to getting your hands on your very own stylish threads, different areas in Seattle tend to be better for different types of shopping:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Downtown has high-end retail such as Tiffany &amp; Co, along with the multi-level flagship Nordstrom store<\/li>\n<li>Ballard is full of hip, independent boutiques like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cameliondesign.com\/\">Camelion Design<\/a> and crafty shops like <a href=\"https:\/\/drygoodsdesignonline.com\/\">Drygoods Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Belltown is the place to go for art galleries and high-end consignment shops<\/li>\n<li>And the suburbs have plenty of outlet malls, the most comprehensive of which is probably the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premiumoutlets.com\/outlet\/seattle\">Seattle Premium Outlets<\/a> in Tulalip, where you can get a deal on name-brand clothing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a specific type of shop, make sure to check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlemag.com\/shopping\/shopping-guide\">the SeattleMag shopping guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.emeraldpalate.com\/seattle-insider-travel-guide-best-shopping-neighborhoods\/\">Emerald Palate has a neighborhood-by-neighborhood shopping guide<\/a>\u00a0to get you up to speed on where to shop near your new home.<\/p>\n<p><b>Outdoor activities and fitness<\/b><\/p>\n<p>No matter what you\u2019re into, you\u2019ll be able to find something fun to do in Seattle, whether it\u2019s:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Doing indoor bouldering at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleboulderingproject.com\/\">Seattle Bouldering Project<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stonegardens.com\/\">Stone Gardens<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Exploring the trails of the 534-acre <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattle.gov\/parks\/environment\/discovery.htm\">Discovery Park<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsgobiking.net\/intermediate\/seattle-burke-gilman-trai\/\">Cycling the Burke-Gilman trail<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Going on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kayakalki.com\/\">a kayak tour<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Taking a yoga class at any of the <a href=\"https:\/\/seattle.suntimes.com\/sea-entertainment\/7\/79\/49918\/5-best-yoga-studios-seattle\">many popular yoga studios in Seattle<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All told, it\u2019s no wonder that Seattle regularly ranks in <a href=\"https:\/\/americanfitnessindex.org\/2015-afi-report-archive\/\">the top ten fittest cities in the US<\/a>. If living a fit lifestyle is important to you, you\u2019ll find plenty of ways to keep up with that lifestyle in Seattle.<\/p>\n<p><b>Seattle is Pet Friendly Too!<\/b><br \/>\nIf your household includes a furry friend, you\u2019re in luck: the city is renowned for being dog-friendly, and you can take your dog with you on public transportation to make it to some of the choice hiking spots.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re an experienced hiker, local dog blog <a href=\"https:\/\/youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com\/\">You Did What With Your Weiner?<\/a>\u00a0has a list of <a href=\"https:\/\/youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com\/5-challenging-and-spectacular-day-hikes-for-you-and-your-dog-around-seattle\/\">five challenging dog-friendly hikes around Seattle<\/a> that you can explore, and if you\u2019re more towards the beginner-friendly end of the spectrum, there\u2019s another list of <a href=\"https:\/\/youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com\/6-%E2%80%9Cunknown%E2%80%9D-dog-friendly-trails-near-seattle\/\">six lesser-known hikes to check out<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, if you want to find something else to do with your pooch, the Seattle Dog Spot site has an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattledogspot.com\/events\/\">event calendar<\/a> full of activities (both outdoors and in).<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8112\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8112\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"dog and cat cuddling in pet-friendly seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle-64x46.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle-192x137.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle-432x309.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pet-friendly-seattle-500x357.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8112\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Krista Mangulsone \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><a name=\"cost\"><\/a>Cost of Living in Seattle<\/h3>\n<p>One of the potential downsides of Seattle is that, like many big cities, it\u2019s not cheap. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/cost-of-living-calculator\/Washington-Seattle\">This cost of living calculator at Payscale<\/a> can help you prepare for a potential increase in cost and see what level of salary you\u2019d need to maintain your standard of living.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the cost of living in Seattle is 24% higher than the national average, but it\u2019s still lower than several major cities (including San Francisco and New York). Wages in Seattle are on a slight upswing, being up 3.6% in Q1 2016, and the average salary in Seattle is $67,263.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"jobs\"><\/a>Seattle&#8217;s Booming Job Market<\/h3>\n<p>Many of Seattle\u2019s jobs are in tech industries, with Amazon (among others) being based in Seattle. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Location=Seattle-WA\/Salary\">According to Payscale<\/a>, the most popular industries in Seattle are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Software\/Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) development<\/li>\n<li>Retail<\/li>\n<li>eCommerce<\/li>\n<li>IT services<\/li>\n<li>Consulting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re relocating to Seattle without a job waiting for you, the odds are in your favor.<\/p>\n<p>As of Q3 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Seattle was 3.3%, compared to a national rate of 5.5%. Unemployment has been on a downward trend since 2010.<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least, WalletHub ranked Seattle 19th on <a href=\"https:\/\/wallethub.com\/edu\/best-cities-for-jobs\/2173\/\">its list of best places to find a job in 2016<\/a> (out of the 150 biggest cities in the U.S.). There are multiple resources available to find a new job in Seattle including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattle.gov\/jobs\/\">Seattle City Employment Center<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/jobs\/jobs-in-seattle-wa\">LinkedIn<\/a>, and of course, <a href=\"https:\/\/seattle.craigslist.org\/search\/jjj\">Craiglist Seattle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"neighborhoods\"><\/a>Neighborhoods: Where to live, eat, and shop in Seattle<\/h3>\n<p>The city government breaks Seattle down into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattle.gov\/neighborhoods\/neighborhood-districts\">thirteen major districts<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ballard<\/li>\n<li>Central Area<\/li>\n<li>Delridge<\/li>\n<li>Downtown<\/li>\n<li>East<\/li>\n<li>Greater Duwamish<\/li>\n<li>Lake Union<\/li>\n<li>Magnolia\/Queen Anne<\/li>\n<li>North<\/li>\n<li>Northeast<\/li>\n<li>Northwest<\/li>\n<li>Southeast<\/li>\n<li>Southwest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each of these districts is represented by District Councils that serve as vehicles for local to address concerns and upcoming activities. In each of these districts, there are smaller neighborhoods \u2014 for example, the Capitol Hill and Fremont neighborhoods are in the Lake Union district.<\/p>\n<h3>Seattle Ranks as One of the Safest Cities in the US<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1793\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1793\" style=\"width: 598px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"598\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle.jpg 598w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-64x57.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-128x114.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-192x171.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-432x384.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-500x445.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/safe-neighborhoods-moving-to-seattle-303x270.jpg 303w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.areavibes.com\/seattle-wa\/neighborhoods\/\">AreaVibes<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Overall, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.areavibes.com\/seattle-wa\/neighborhoods\/\">AreaVibes ranks Seattle neighborhoods very favorably<\/a>, with only four having an \u201caverage\u201d rank: South Park, International District, Brighton, and Rainier Beach. These four neighborhoods have higher than average crime rates, ranging from 6% higher than Seattle\u2019s average (International District) to 26% higher (South Park).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"499\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"personal crime scores in seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle.jpg 499w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle-64x40.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle-128x80.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle-192x120.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle-432x271.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/personal-crime-scores-in-seattle-430x270.jpg 430w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 499px) 100vw, 499px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"property crime scores in seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle-64x40.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle-128x79.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle-192x119.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle-432x268.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/property-crime-scores-in-seattle-435x270.jpg 435w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>(<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkscore.com\/WA\/Seattle\"><i>Maps via WalkScore<\/i><\/a><i>) <\/i><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for an especially safe Seattle suburb to settle down in, Sammamish is a good choice. It\u2019s about a 30-minute drive to the heart of Seattle, and it\u2019s been ranked by sources varying from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/morganbrennan\/2012\/12\/19\/americas-friendliest-towns\/#785c76716a60\">Forbes<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.issaquahreporter.com\/news\/50956757.html\">CNN<\/a> as exceptionally safe and friendly.<\/p>\n<h3>Seattle&#8217;s Education System<\/h3>\n<p>If you have children or are planning on having them soon, you\u2019ll want to know where the best schools are in Seattle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/k12.niche.com\/rankings\/public-school-districts\/best-overall\/m\/seattle-metro-area\/\">As ranked by Niche<\/a>, taking into account factors like state test scores, college readiness, SAT\/ACT scores, graduation rates, and student\/parent reviews, the top five school districts in the Seattle metro area are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bellevue School District<\/li>\n<li>Bainbridge Island School District<\/li>\n<li>Mercer Island School District<\/li>\n<li>Lake Washington School District<\/li>\n<li>Issaquah School District<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In 2016, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatschools.org\/washington\/seattle\/schools\/\">Great Schools<\/a> gave the city of Seattle a score of 9 out of 10, with particular strong ratings among elementary schools, many of which received a perfect 10 out of 10 including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bryant Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>Coe Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>Hay Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>John Stanford International Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>Loyal Heights Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>North Beach Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>View Ridge Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>Wedgwood Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>West Woodland Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>Thurgood Marshall Elementary School<\/li>\n<li>Whittier Elementary School<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about going back to school, Seattle is a great place to do it.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to higher education, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington.edu\/\">University of Washington<\/a> was ranked as the 16th best public university in the world by <a href=\"https:\/\/colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com\/best-colleges\/university-of-washington-seattle-campus-236948\/overall-rankings\">U.S. News in 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>UoW (or \u201cu-dub\u201d as it\u2019s referred to by the locals) is also particularly strong in Computer Science (where it ranked #11 nationally) and Primary Care Medicine (where it ranked #1).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/seattlecentral.edu\/\">Seattle Central Community College<\/a> was recognized by <i>Time<\/i> as <a href=\"https:\/\/content.time.com\/time\/magazine\/article\/0,9171,1000725,00.html\">the community college of the year<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>The most popular Seattle neighborhoods<\/h3>\n<p>In no particular order, here are a few popular Seattle neighborhoods you might like to move into:<\/p>\n<h3>Beacon Hill<\/h3>\n<p><b>Beacon Hill<\/b> is known for being kid-friendly, with multiple parks and playgrounds and a library. It\u2019s close to the light rail and is bike-friendly, with mostly flat terrain and good bike lanes.<\/p>\n<p>One of the more interesting things about Beacon Hill is <a href=\"https:\/\/beaconfoodforest.org\/\">the seven-acre food forest<\/a>, created with the goal to \u201cdesign, plant and grow an edible urban forest garden that inspires our community to gather together, grow our own food and rehabilitate our local ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlemet.com\/articles\/2014\/4\/19\/10-hottest-neighborhoods-in-seattle-may-2014\">According to the Seattle Met<\/a>, buyers tend to be lured to Beacon Hill by bungalows, midcentury homes, and newly built townhomes (which often come with Built Green certification).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BGbMzxHFqPr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A photo posted by Julia Manchik (@juliamanchik)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2016-06-09T07:16:02+00:00\">Jun 9, 2016 at 12:16am PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\" async=\"\" defer=\"defer\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Capitol Hill<\/h3>\n<p><b>Capitol Hill<\/b> is extremely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkscore.com\/WA\/Seattle\/Capitol_Hill\">pedestrian and public-transit friendly<\/a>, with a walk score of 91, a transit score of 73, and a bike score of 69. It\u2019s also a great neighborhood for foodies, with 82 Zagat-rated restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>The foodie-friendliness and walkability comes at a price, though: the cost of living in Capitol Hill is 5% higher than Seattle\u2019s average, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.areavibes.com\/seattle-wa\/capitol+hill\/livability\/\">the median home value is 13% higher than Seattle\u2019s average<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Pioneer Square<\/h3>\n<p>Aside from downtown, <b>Pioneer Square<\/b> is the most walkable neighborhood in Seattle, with a walk score of 98 and a transit score of 100. If you move there, your neighbors will be mostly renters.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not surprising, given all the new apartments that have recently gone up, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.areavibes.com\/seattle-wa\/pioneer+square\/housing\/\">median home value of $712,834<\/a> in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n<h3>Columbia City or International District<\/h3>\n<p>If you want to experience one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the United States, <b>Columbia City<\/b> and <b>International District<\/b>\u00a0have plenty to offer.<\/p>\n<p>Both have a variety of international cuisines available ranging from Ethiopian to Mediterranean, over 60 languages are spoken in Columbia City, and Kobe Terrace Park in International District showcases a four-ton stone lantern from Seattle\u2019s Japanese sister city.<\/p>\n<p>The median home price and rent in both neighborhoods is lower than the Seattle average, with International District being slightly more affordable than Columbia City.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BF77Y-ZAMBD\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A photo posted by Siya Oum (@siyanimation)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2016-05-28T03:47:22+00:00\">May 27, 2016 at 8:47pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\" async=\"\" defer=\"defer\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Georgetown<\/h3>\n<p>Speaking of affordability, <b>Georgetown<\/b> (not to be confused with its namesake located in Washington, D.C.) ranks as one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Seattle, along with being one of the most artistic.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.areavibes.com\/seattle-wa\/georgetown\/livability\/\">AreaVibes ranks<\/a> the cost of living as 12% lower than the Seattle average, and the median home price is about 32% lower than the Seattle average.<\/p>\n<p>The neighborhood is known for its industrial-chic vibe, with plenty of warehouses turned into refurbished lofts. It is a little less pedestrian-friendly than Seattle as a whole, with a walk score of 68 and a transit score of 46 (compared to Seattle\u2019s average of 73 and 57).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 38.3333333333% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BFQKhqAutMB\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A photo posted by Hillary Margolis (@h_margo22)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2016-05-11T03:53:02+00:00\">May 10, 2016 at 8:53pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\" async=\"\" defer=\"defer\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Ballard<\/h3>\n<p><b>Ballard<\/b> has recently had an influx of new apartment and condo buildings go up, drawing new people to its small-town-in-a-big-city feel. Cost of living and average home price are about average for Seattle, but Ballard is especially pedestrian-friendly, with a walk score of 88.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also known for its year-round farmers market, which the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.7x7.com\/travel\/7-best-neighborhoods-seattle\">7&#215;7 blog names as the best one in Seattle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"transit\"><\/a>Transit: Everything you need to know to get around in Seattle<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"cars\"><\/a>Car ownership<\/h3>\n<p>Although Seattle was #8 on the 2000 census for cities with the most households without a car, the majority of Seattleites (a little less than 2\/3) do own automobilescars.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fees &amp; Insurance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As far as car registration and tax costs go, you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Car insurance rates that are <a href=\"https:\/\/quotewizard.com\/auto-insurance\/seattle-washington\">higher than the national average<\/a>, ranging from $1,453 to $1,639:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1796\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1796\" style=\"width: 608px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"608\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"car insurance rates in seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle.jpg 608w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-64x35.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-128x70.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-192x105.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-432x236.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-500x273.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/car-insurance-rates-in-seattle-494x270.jpg 494w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1796\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">via <a href=\"https:\/\/quotewizard.com\/auto-insurance\/seattle-washington\">QuoteWizard<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>Basic fees of $38.75 plus a weight-based fee ranging from $10-30<\/li>\n<li>The Transportation Benefit District (TBD) fee, which is $80 in Seattle<\/li>\n<li>Regional Transit Authority (RTA) taxes, which are .3% of the depreciated value of your car<\/li>\n<li>Possible additional fees for a special design license plate ($30) or an electric car ($100)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of that adds up to average annual cost of $1,714.75, or roughly $143\/month, before factoring in any parking fees or for gas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gas Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As far as those prices go, gas recently hit an eighteen-month low in February, but are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlegasprices.com\/retail_price_chart.aspx\">back on an upswing<\/a>, with prices at about .40\/gallon higher than the national average:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1797\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1797\" style=\"width: 682px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"305\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"18 month average gas prices in seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-64x29.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-128x57.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-192x86.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-432x193.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-500x224.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-300x134.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/18-month-average-gas-prices-in-seattle-604x270.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1797\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlegasprices.com\/retail_price_chart.aspx\">SeattleGasPrices.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019re moving from another state, you\u2019ll have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.wa.gov\/driverslicense\/moving.html\">30 days to get your driver\u2019s license<\/a>, which you need to do before registering your vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re over the age of 18 and have a valid driver\u2019s license, the process is easy \u2014 you\u2019ll just pay $54 (or $72 for an enhanced driver\u2019s license, which can be used as a passport alternative at U.S. land and sea border crossings).<\/p>\n<p>If your license is expired, you\u2019ll have to retake the written and driving tests, so keep your license current!<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to getting around Seattle, you can always rely on the old standbys of Google Maps and Waze, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsdot.wa.gov\/Inform\/mobile.htm\">the WSDOT app<\/a> can give you Seattle-specific info that includes live traffic cams, wait times at the Canadian border, and more.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattle.gov\/transportation\/parking\/byphone.htm\">Pay By Phone app<\/a> lets you pay for parking from your phone \u2014 no more looking for the closest meter.<\/p>\n<h3>Public transportation<\/h3>\n<p>Seattle\u2019s public transportation is thoughtfully designed, regularly ranking well in lists across the country:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/smartasset.com\/mortgage\/best-cities-for-public-transportation\">#6 at SmartAsset<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fivethirtyeight.com\/datalab\/how-your-citys-public-transit-stacks-up\/\">#12 on FiveThirtyEight<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/cities-with-best-public-transportation-systems-2014-1\">#7 according to WalkScore\u2019s ranking<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In fact, Seattle recently became the second most bus-reliant metropolis in America, with one out of five residents using the metro to get to work. <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.kingcounty.gov\/fares\/\">Normal adult fares<\/a> range from $2.50-3.25, with $8 unlimited regional day passes, and unlimited monthly passes ranging from $90-117.<\/p>\n<p>Buses aren\u2019t your only option in Seattle, though. There are several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kingcounty.gov\/depts\/transportation\/metro\/travel-options\/bus\/rapidride.aspx\">RapidRide<\/a> lines, multiple rail lines and a streetcar line that connect various neighborhoods and suburbs, and even a <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.kingcounty.gov\/tops\/watertaxi\/\">water taxi<\/a> to connect Vashon Island and West Seattle to downtown.<\/p>\n<p>If\u00a0you\u2019re waiting on your bus and want real-time arrival information, the free <a href=\"https:\/\/onebusaway.org\/\">OneBusAway app<\/a> has you covered.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"walking\"><\/a>Biking and walking around Seattle<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1798\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1798\" style=\"width: 430px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"430\" height=\"145\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"walkscore for moving to seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle.jpg 430w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle-64x22.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle-128x43.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle-192x65.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/walkscore-for-moving-to-seattle-300x101.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1798\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkscore.com\/WA\/Seattle\">WalkScore.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to WalkScore.com, Seattle is \u201crapidly becoming a world-class walkable city,\u201d with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkscore.com\/WA\/Seattle\">walk score<\/a> of 73. Ranked eighth in the U.S. for walkability, the most pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are downtown, Pioneer Square, Belltown, and First Hill.<\/p>\n<p><b>When it comes to bikes, Seattle was ranked the 13th most bikeable city in the U.S. in 2015.<\/b> In order of bike-friendliness, the top 10 most bike-friendly neighborhoods, followed by their bike score, in Seattle are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>University District (86)<\/li>\n<li>Central District (86)<\/li>\n<li>Atlantic (84)<\/li>\n<li>Capitol Hill (82)<\/li>\n<li>Wallingford (82)<\/li>\n<li>South Lake Union (81)<\/li>\n<li>Belltown (80)<\/li>\n<li>Fremont (78)<\/li>\n<li>Green Lake (77)<\/li>\n<li>Portage Bay (77)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At the other end of the spectrum, the three <i>least<\/i> bike-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle are Rainier View, Fauntleroy, and North Beach-Blue Ridge.<\/p>\n<p>For all the bike-related news and events in Seattle, you can check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlebikeblog.com\/\">Seattle Bike Blog<\/a>, \u00a0(naturally!).<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re having trouble mapping your bike routes, both <a href=\"https:\/\/commuteseattle.com\/commuteportal\/\">Commute Seattle<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattle.gov\/transportation\/bikemapOnline.htm\">the Seattle city government<\/a> have bike maps to help you out. There&#8217;s also <a href=\"https:\/\/seattlebikefriendlybiz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bike Friendly Business<\/a> which helps you find Seattle businesses that support biking.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"realestate\"><\/a>Seattle&#8217;s Real Estate Market: What to expect when buying a home in Seattle<\/h2>\n<p>As you might have noticed, homes in Seattle aren\u2019t a small investment, which means you need to gather as much data as you can to be a prepared homebuyer. Overall, the citywide median home price (across all residential properties) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/business\/real-estate\/king-county-home-prices-hit-a-new-record-in-december\/\">is $508,000<\/a>, which is about $320,000 higher than the national median and about $228,000 higher than the state median.<\/p>\n<p>According to our data, these agents are within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/seattle-wa\/top-real-estate-agents\">top 2 &#8211; 4% of real estate agents\u00a0in Seattle<\/a>, and regularly get their clients deals below that median home price:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/matt-warmack-wa-94391\">Matt Warmack<\/a>, who has ten years of experience and is a condo expert (ranking in the top 1% of agents in Seattle for condo sales)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/joey-mccune-wa-51989\">Joey McCune<\/a>, a single-family homes expert <i>and<\/i> a condo expert with sixteen years of experience<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/ian-bell-wa-18369\">Ian Bell<\/a>, an exclusive buyer\u2019s agent with a five-star customer satisfaction ranking from Seattle Magazine for nine years running<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/jessica-livingston-wa-1203722\">Jessica Livingston<\/a>, a RE\/MAX Hall of Fame recipient and recipient of the Seattle Magazine &#8220;Best in Client Satisfaction&#8221; award every year since 2006<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/jonn-mcynturff-wa-1194969\">Jonn Mcynturff<\/a>, another single-family homes expert<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Seattle&#8217;s Housing Market<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As of right now, the housing market in Seattle is on an upswing again, after previously peaking in 2007 and then bottoming out (with median prices of around $308,000) in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot of demand, so aside from choosing a great agent from the list above, you need to be prepared to move quickly when it comes to a home \u2014 there\u2019s not a lot of time for waffling.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/seattle-condo-prices-jump-21-as-tech-workers-snap-up-urban-homes-2016-03-24\">Condos are especially competitive at the moment<\/a>, with many of the tech workers that are relocating to Seattle looking for condos in very walkable neighborhoods, over houses in suburbs or less central neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<h2>The Nitty Gritty of Moving to Seattle:<\/h2>\n<h3>Where to Get New Furniture, Find Unpacking Companies, and More<\/h3>\n<p>Given that you\u2019re now well-versed in nearly every aspect of living in Seattle, it makes sense to cover the logistics of \u2014 you know \u2014 actually <i>moving<\/i> there.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you need help unpacking or want to get new furniture, here are answers to all of your \u201cjust moved to Seattle\u201d FAQs:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8116\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8116\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"a fern, love seat and dresser in a seattle residence\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle-64x46.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle-192x137.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle-432x309.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/furniture-shopping-in-seattle-500x357.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8116\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Alexandra Gorn \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Where should I get my new furniture? <\/b><\/p>\n<p>If you need a new bedroom set (or just a bed), <a href=\"https:\/\/bedroomsandmore.com\/\">Bedrooms &amp; More<\/a> in Northgate comes highly recommended \u2014 notably, they offer organic, chemical-free mattresses and adjustable beds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinnonfurniture.com\/\">McKinnon Furniture<\/a>, in downtown Seattle, specializes in handmade wood pieces that are built to last.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kasala.com\/\">Kasala Outlet<\/a> can hook you up with modern furniture and home accessories (without breaking the bank).<\/p>\n<p>If you want to go the Scandinavian assemble-it-yourself route, there\u2019s an IKEA in Renton, a 20-minute drive from the heart of Seattle.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re just browsing around and want to check out as many stores as possible, Tukwila (a suburb about fifteen minutes away) has plenty of options. In Seattle, the Industrial and University districts are popular places for furniture stores.<\/p>\n<p>Whichever route you go, make sure to read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlepi.com\/news\/article\/NW-Style-A-crash-course-on-furniture-buying-1191213.php\">this crash-course on furniture buying<\/a> beforehand.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8117\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8117\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"two people carrying cardboard moving boxes\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes-64x46.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes-192x137.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes-432x309.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moving-to-seattle-guide-packing-and-boxes-500x357.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8117\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Josh Edgoose \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Who are the best unpacking companies? <\/b><\/p>\n<p>Need a little help getting your new home set up and ready to go?<\/p>\n<p>These highly-rated companies have your back:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/topshelforg.com\/\">Top Shelf Organizing<\/a>, offers home organization \u2014 but also help unpacking and organizing a new home<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwmajesticmovers.com\/home.html\">Majestic Moving and Packing<\/a>, can help you unpack (and doesn\u2019t have a problem with short-notice moves)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thumbtack.com\/wa\/seattle\/interior-painting\/moving-cleaning-services\">Hardcore Home Improvement<\/a>, recognized by Thumbtack in 2015 &amp; 2016 for having great customer reviews<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psmoving.com\/\">Puget Sound Moving and Storage<\/a> handles all kinds of residential, commercial, and specialty moving. They&#8217;ve also got some great storage options if you are waiting on a new lease or can&#8217;t move into the new house just yet.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gentlegiant.com\/\">Gentle Giant Moving Company<\/a>, well-rated with several locations in other states \u2014 so if you\u2019re moving from out of state and want a full-service company, this could be it<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/organizingexperts.com\/\">The Organizing Experts<\/a>, another team of home organizers that also offer unpacking services (and will break down boxes and take them away to recycle, to boot)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What if I need to make some quick repairs \u2014 where should I head for hardware supplies? <\/b><\/p>\n<p>All of these hardware stores have a rating of 4 stars or above on Yelp, Google, or both:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacsupply.com\/\">Pacific Supply Co<\/a> in Capitol Hill was rated the best hardware store in Seattle by Seattle Weekly<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mclendons.com\/\">McLendons Hardware<\/a> has a location in Seattle and one in Renton (one of the Seattle suburbs)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hardwickandsons.com\/\">Hardwick\u2019s Hardware<\/a> is a family-owned hardware store near the university<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stonewayhardware.com\/\">Stoneway Hardware<\/a> specializes in fasteners of all types<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8118\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8118\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"a man pouring paint for home improvements\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence-64x46.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence-192x137.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence-432x309.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/home-improvements-to-your-seattle-residence-500x357.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8118\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Josh Edgoose \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>What if I need to remodel or have my new home painted? <\/b><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in search of contractors, here\u2019s a few well-rated options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundpaintingsolutions.com\/\">Sound Painting<\/a> does interior and exterior painting<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/seattleroofing.com\/\">North Star Construction<\/a> offers roof, fence, and deck installation and repair<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/leesgenerallandscaping.com\/\">Lee\u2019s General Landscaping<\/a> can set up flower beds, install sod, clean your yard, and handle most other landscaping needs<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/windowseattle.com\/\">Seattle Construction<\/a> does windows, roofing, and siding installation\/replacement\/maintenance<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cobaltconst.com\/\">Cobalt Construction<\/a> specializes in remodeling<\/li>\n<li>Last but not least, you can always check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thumbtack.com\/\">the Seattle Thumbtack marketplace<\/a> to see reviews and get quotes for projects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8119\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8119\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"view of seattle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle-64x46.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle-192x137.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle-432x309.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/view-of-seattle-500x357.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Felipe Galvan \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Everything else you might\u00a0want to know about moving to\u00a0Seattle<\/h2>\n<h3>How to talk like a Seattle local<\/h3>\n<p>In any city, there are regional pronunciations and names that only locals know how to say. Here\u2019s a breakdown of some of the Seattle-ite pronunciations that could give you away as a city newbie:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aberdeen: ABB-er-deen<\/li>\n<li>Bellevue: BEL-vyoo<\/li>\n<li>Bothell: BAW-thull (it rhymes with awful)<\/li>\n<li>Chehalis: sha-HAY-lis<\/li>\n<li>Chelan: sha-LAN<\/li>\n<li>Duwamish: doo-WAH-mish<\/li>\n<li>Enumclaw: EE-num-claw<\/li>\n<li>Issaquah: ISS-uh-kwah<\/li>\n<li>Mount Rainier: Mount Ray-NEER<\/li>\n<li>Mount Si: Mount SIGH<\/li>\n<li>Okanogan: oke-a-NOG-in<\/li>\n<li>Puget: PEW-jit<\/li>\n<li>Salish: SAY-lish<\/li>\n<li>Sammamish: suh-MAM-ish<\/li>\n<li>Sedro-Woolley: SEE-droh WOOL-ee<\/li>\n<li>Sehome: SEE-home<\/li>\n<li>Sequim: skwim (just the one syllable!)<\/li>\n<li>Yakima: YAK-uh-mah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For the full list, you can head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Seattle\/comments\/1v3k2i\/the_unofficial_seattle_area_pronunciation_guide\/\">this post on Reddit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>The apps of Seattle<\/h3>\n<p>When you move someplace, it\u2019s hard to find things to do right off the bat. Luckily, Seattle has you covered, with:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/seattlepipeline.com\/app\/\">The Seattle Pipeline app<\/a>, which has a map of happy hours around the city, plus lists of local events and opportunities to win tickets to them<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/seattleweekly.saambaa.com\/apps\/seattle.html\">The Seattle PlanIt app<\/a> has a similar focus \u2014 with the added benefit of making it easy to coordinate plans with your friends or family from the app, even if they don\u2019t have it on their phone<\/p>\n<p>Or, for a super-specific focus, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/hopplotter\/id1068262293?mt=8\">the HopPlotter app<\/a> to see breweries near you \u2014 a new-to-Seattle pub crawl, perhaps?<\/p>\n<p>There are even startups that deliver fresh-made meals straight to your door. <a href=\"https:\/\/munchery.com\/\">Munchery<\/a> cooks up meals like whole grain pasta and kale pesto or chicken tikka masala every day, and then brings them to you on-demand or at your scheduled delivery time. Entrees are $7-10 and the delivery fee is $2.95.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from Munchery, there\u2019s the usual suspects to get your food delivered: <a href=\"https:\/\/postmates.com\/seattle\">Postmates<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grubhub.com\/delivery\/wa-seattle\">Grubhub<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/seattle.eat24hours.com\/\">Eat24<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/ubereats.com\/seattle\/\">UberEATS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to go to your food instead, there\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlefoodtruck.com\/\">Seattle Food Truck site<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zagat.com\/l\/seattle\/most-popular-seattle-restaurants\">Zagat\u2019s list of the most popular restaurants in Seattle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>The local Seattle sports teams: what you need to know<\/h3>\n<p>If you want to be able to keep up in conversation with a local sports buff, here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need to know about Seattle sports:<\/p>\n<p><b>Seattle&#8217;s Football Scene:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The Seattle Seahawks are the local NFL team, which has been in three Super Bowls (including Super Bowl XLIX in 2015). Seahawks fans are referred to collectively as the \u201c12th Man,\u201d \u201c12th Fan,\u201d or \u201c12s\u201d and have twice set the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd at a sporting event. The Seahawks play at CenturyLink field located less than 2 miles from the central business district of Seattle.<\/p>\n<p><b>Baseball in Seattle:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The local MLB team is the Seattle Mariners, which had a set a record for the American League in 2001, when they won 116 games. Unfortunately, that\u2019s really the only record the Mariners have set \u2014 they\u2019re also one of two MLB teams to have never played in a world series. The Mariners play in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Safeco_Field\">SafeCo field<\/a>, a retractable stadium built in 1999 and located in Seattle&#8217;s SoDo neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p><b>Seattle&#8217;s\u00a0<\/b><b>Soccer Club:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The men\u2019s national soccer team is the Seattle Sounders, and the women\u2019s team is the Seattle Reign. The Sounders have won the U.S. Open Cup three times in a row (2009-2011) and four times total (the fourth time being in 2014). The Reign is only a few years old (founded in 2013), but has already won the National Women\u2019s Soccer League Shield twice (in 2014 and 2015).<\/p>\n<p><b>Basketball in the Rainy City:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The local WNBA team is the Seattle Storm, which is known for having fun, fan-friendly games (one tradition is an all-kids dance squad, that leads a conga line on the court during time-outs), and has qualified for the WNBA playoffs eleven of its sixteen years playing in Seattle. Many Seattle basketball fans remain wistful that one day, their below SuperSonics (who departed for Oklahoma City in 2008) will return.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to keep up with the latest Seattle sports news, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundersfc.com\/mobileapps\">the official Sounders App<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seahawks.com\/gameday\/apps\">Seahawks app<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.mynorthwest.com\/710app\/\">the ESPN Seattle app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Whew.<\/h3>\n<p>That was <i>a lot<\/i> of information, but don\u2019t you feel much better prepared for moving to Seattle\u00a0now?<\/p>\n<p>The last thing to do is to find an agent who can get you your dream home. We can help there, too \u2014 if you\u2019ll <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/seattle-wa\/top-real-estate-agents\">head to our Seattle agents page<\/a>, you\u2019ll be able to get in touch with agents, see data about their track record, and more.<\/p>\n<h4>Last but not least: best of luck with your move to Seattle!<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We got in touch with local Seattle bloggers, dug into all the stats, combed through Yelp, and generally plumbed the depths of the internet, to bring you everything you could possibly want to know about moving to Seattle Washington.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":8111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[322,247],"tags":[205],"class_list":["post-1789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logistics","category-moving","tag-moving-to-seattle"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Moving to Seattle? 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