10 pros and cons of living in Seattle
Dubbed the Emerald City, Seattle has to be nothing short of a lively city graced by beautiful natural bounty. A blossoming tech scene and cultural diversity of the place are just some of the myriad reasons drawing people to live in Seattle. That said, this being a city, there are some potential downsides. Here are 10 key pros and cons of living in Seattle.
Pros of Living in Seattle
Access to the Great Outdoors
One of the top selling points of Seattle is its perfect location close to some of nature's best wonders: mountains, forests, and bodies of water—all quite literally within an arm's reach. This will surely be a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. One could hike in the Cascades, kayak to the waters of Lake Washington, or even ferry back and forth across the back of Puget Sound.
Flourishing Job Market
Some of the world's biggest firms, namely Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks, and Boeing, are located in Seattle. Added to this, it does provide people with well-paying jobs in the city's booming tech industry, particularly in software engineering, cloud computing, and e-commerce field. And it's not just in the tech industry; other fields include aerospace, healthcare, and education.
No State Income Tax
Washington is one of seven states without personal income tax. No matter how you slice it, Seattleites keep more money in their pockets to spend where they want or save. Keep in mind, though, that sales tax and property tax rates are high to make up for it.
Mild Climate
Unlike so many other places in the country, Seattle has one of the most moderate climates all year round. Winters are cool and wet but rarely frigid. Summers are warm and dry but without the hot part. It will give you a chance to also enjoy, along with these beautiful and different seasons, the change in fall foliage, and flowers blooming in spring.
Extraordinary Coffee and Food
Starbucks was born in Seattle, but the coffee culture of Seattle is a world apart from that mega-chain. Locals have a wealth of high-quality, locally roasted coffees and charming, homey neighborhood cafes. It's a foodie scene, resounding with fresh seafood, international cuisine, and the flair of the Pacific Northwest.
Cons of Living in Seattle
Truth be told, Seattle is an expensive place to live, especially in terms of space, with the number of individuals moving into the city increasing; rents and home prices have surged in the last few years. Expect everything from groceries to utilities to health care to cost a premium in comparison with the national average.
This Gloomy Weather
While Seattle's rainy reputation is not a mere myth—it does indeed rain an average of 152 days a year—most of that is light, never-ending drizzle from October through March. The winters are indeed long, cold, and damp. It takes a certain mindset to embrace the gloom!
Bad Traffic and No Parking
Seattle is a great city; however, its infrastructure could use some catching up since the population boom. Traffic congestion is huge, especially during rush hour, and commute times rate among the worst in the nation. Even if you drive around downtown, good luck finding an affordable place to park. A combination of public transit or bicycling helps, provided you are willing to stuff onto crowded buses.
The "Seattle Freeze"
Many new Seattleites have remarked at the difficulty of making new friends. While locals are very polite at the surface, it seems they for the most part keep to themselves and their current circle of friends. This phenomenon has become known as the "Seattle Freeze," difficult to develop a sense of community and belonging at first.
Homelessness
Seattle has an extremely high rate of homelessness, just like most big cities. Some of the apparent factors that lead to this condition in Seattle are the high cost of living and expenses being at par with other general areas, if not in excess, and unavailability or lack of affordable housing.
Living in Seattle: Things That Would Make Life Even Better
Although Seattle poses many challenges, it still has different ways of making living a great experience. And one of the greatest ways to improve this kind of living is keeping the place of residence clean and in order. In a city as lively as Seattle, certainly the last thing you would like to come home to is chores.
An apartment cleaning service Seattle is a professional solution to taking the work out of keeping your home clean and tidy. Most of the Seattle residents, in this respect, follow eco-friendly apartment cleaning Seattle with respect to their homes that do not contain any toxic material but rather are ecological products, so that a healthy living environment is ensured. This makes it ideal for a family who has very busy schedules or really just has limited time for cleaning.
Look for a firm with a good reputation on issues of honesty, quality work, and customer satisfaction when looking for such a service. A cleaning service will enable you to have your living area clean and welcoming at all times while at the same time leaving your time free to maximize every opportunity that Seattle presents.
Seattle: It's raining. It's expensive. With such a list of pros and cons in mind, weigh your options: Does the Emerald City sound like the right place for you?. Seattle isn't perfect, but its combination of natural beauty, economic opportunity, and quality of life adds up to something special for many of the people who have made it home.