Public transit is great in the city center, but elsewhere you'll likely need a car.
Seattle is surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests, and encompasses thousands of acres of parkland so its nickname of "The Emerald City" is well earned. This makes it easy for the metro's more than 3.7 million people to get outside and be active. Those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle will still get great views while drinking a glass of locally produced wine or craft beer. This city has something for everyone, from downtown urban living to quiet (and not so quiet) beach towns, leafy suburbs, and even houseboat communities.
This metro is home to several massive technology companies, including Microsoft and Amazon. Other big players like Facebook and Zillow also have offices here, and hundreds of startups call the city home as well. The aerospace industry, anchored by Boeing, is another major part of the metro's economy. And coffee addicts can go straight to the source since Starbucks is headquartered in Seattle. Tourism continues to reach record-breaking levels, adding to the city's economic diversity.
Sports fans will have no shortage of teams to root for: Seattle has a professional football team, a professional basketball team, a professional baseball team, and two professional soccer teams.
This is a city for serious drinkers: you'll find nearly 1,700 coffee shops around town. For more adult beverages, there are dozens of wine tasting rooms and over forty breweries making beers for every palate. The culinary scene is similarly rich, with upscale institutions that have been around for decades and casual neighborhood spots alike.
If there's one thing that's consistent across Seattle, it's the casual vibe. This is not a city that celebrates excess and showboating, perhaps because there's just no competing with surrounding mountains and lakes.
Read on to learn about the basics (housing, transportation, internet, and more!) of moving to Seattle and to find the perfect neighborhood for you.
Moving to Settle? Find the perfect neighborhood for you.
We all need a roof over our heads. Learn how to find one in Seattle.
Moving to Seattle? Learn how to get around the city.
Figure out which local bank is the right one for you and learn how to open an account.
"Since 2006, the year I moved from Paris to Seattle, I have been loving my life in the Pacific Northwest. We initially moved for just three years but they passed and… we stayed! Seattle is such a fantastic city and the Puget Sound such a beautiful green place to live by."
Learn about the phases of education, why school district boundaries are important, and different school options in Seattle.
Learn how to navigate healthcare, how to find a great doctor, and see the top Seattle hospitals.
Compare Seattle's main phone and internet service providers.
Learn which pets are welcome in Seattle and how to register them with the city.