What city is better to live in: Houston, TX, Seattle, WA, or Tampa, FL?

Question

I'm choosing between these three cities to move to after I graduate from college. I personally like cool weather, but not drastically hot nor cold weather. I dont mind snow, but I definitely dont want months of it. I want to stay somewhere big, but not consuming and at the same time has lots of things to do. I love shopping and entertainment (movies, theater, museums). Let me know your thoughts!!..

Answer 1

I've been to all three. Seattle is BY FAR the best in terms of culture quality of life, activity. It is cool and pleasent in the summer with low humidity but it is rainy in the winter.

Tampa is mild in the winter buy very hot and humid in the summer. Cultually Tampa has some Cuban influences but there are too many retirees and tourists. Florida is not one of my favorite places.

BY FAR THE WORST PLACE ON EARTH IS HOUSTON TEXAS. TRAFFIC IS HORRIBLE, THE CLIMATE IS UNGODLY HOT AND HUMID AND IF THERE IS A HELL ON EARTH, HOUSTON TEXAS IS IT !!!!!!!

Answer 2

I have been to all three cities, and based on your personal preferences, I would recommend Seattle. Both Houston and Tampa can get extremely hot, while Seattle can get chilly but is rarely cold (at least what I as a midwesterner consider cold). Of course, it doesn't often snow in any of those cities, but Seattle probably does receive more snow than the other two. Seattle's biggest downfall, of course, being the grey skies and rain it is so famous for. Seattle is extrememly diverse and has a great entertainment scene, with all types of music, shopping, bars, theaters, etc. Seattle also has a much wider variety of outdoor activities if you are interested in those, offering mountains for climbing and hiking and camping, water for boating and jet-skiing, and lots of parks and forests for picnics and outings. Seattle also offers a wide diversity of people, in age, gender, race, sexuality, etc., which tends to make it a generally more forward-thinking and open-minded city.

Houston is warm and a friendly place, and Tampa offers great weather and the ocean, all of which are huge draws. However, my *personal* experience suggests to me that Seattle may be a better fit for you.

That being said, I would STRONGLY advise a visit to all three cities so you can feel for yourself. The only way you can decide for sure is by experiencing each of the cities in person.

You also have to take into consideration the expenses of living in the different cities (I believe but am not positive that Seattle has the highest cost of living), as well as the available job market, whether any friends or family are nearby, the cost to fly home for visits from each city, etc.

Answer 3

I live in Tampa, and moved here from Seattle. The weather is alot nicer in Tampa if you like hot sunny weather, but the culture is WAAAAY better in Seattle. The people in Tampa are just plain out rude most of the time... Not everyone, but most everyone. It's just like an atmosphere around here. We are actually moving back to the Seattle area on March 1st.. WHOOOO HOOOOO! Seattle is alot more laid back and has alot more of the things that you mentioned like theater and museums and such. As far as Houston, I have only driven through, but I've heard it's a bad place to live. I really couldn't give you a good personal opinion on Houston though. Sooooo, as for my answer, it would HAVE to be Seattle!! Hope this helps! (Also, here are some links to check out about Seattle)

Answer 4

I agree that Seattle has got to be better than Houston and Tampa considering weather and progressiveness. Sure Seattle may be a little wet and gray, but at least killer heat is rare and not the norm during the summer. Snow in quantity is also rare in the city, though the higher altitude subburbs have been known to suffer some.

The only bad thing I'd say about Seattle -- other than the apparently inability of voters to select a road construction plan -- is that the cost of living here in Seattle is higher than it need be. For example, we have the highest milk prices in the nation. Gasoline and downtown parking are also pricy, but there is an award-winning bus system that can get you almost anywhere you need to go.

You didn't say what your degree is in. If it's software, then Seattle is definately the place for you. You mention an insterest in culture, and the Seatlle area has several fine musuems and theaters. Seattle's progressiveness has also brought a diverse selection of eateries.

Personally, I'd be hard pressed to move away from Seattle. I'd miss the views: from Mount Ranier and other mountain ranges to Puget Sound and the wooded parks, the green backdrop that is the Pacific Northwest is hard to beat.

I also wouldn't be able to survive in a city where, for example, there is simmering racism as can be often be found in southern border states.
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Answer 5

I live about 100 miles north of Seattle, not too far from the Canadian border and visit Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. on a regular basis. I'm from Connecticut. Anyway, I have a couple of friends who did not like Houston's humid, hot weather.
While I've been to Florida's east coast 1/2 dozen times, I've never been to Tampa so I really can't comment.
Yes, we have lots of overcast, rainy days in NW WA but the summers are great (not too hot and usually dry) and the winters are mild. The cost for housing in Seattle is expensive.

Answer 6

Hands down - Seattle. I've lived in both Seattle and Houston.

Summers in both Houston and Tampa are really hot and humid. In case you haven't noticed they have hurricanes in that part of the country.

In Seattle they rarely get snow, although they did this year. Most of the winter you deal with something they call the pineapple express - the predominate weather comes from the direction of Hawaii which manifests itself as misty rain most of the time. The summers tend to be mild.

There are excellent restaurants in Seattle, shopping (Pikes Place Market and surrounding area), great grocery stores, all your major sports, University of Washington. Its about a 2 hour drive to Vancouver Canada, 12 hour drive to San Francisco.

Disadvantages - 8% sales tax. Traffic is horrendous. Clear sunny days can be few and far between.

I live in Boston now, it's freezing here now, and I kick myself every winter for moving here.

Answer 7

Houston To Tampa

Answer 8

I grew up in Washington state, now live in Houston and have visited Tampa many times. Based on your criteria I would go with Seattle, assuming you don't mind overcast skies, both Houston and Tampa are very humid, Seattle is cooler, it only snows a fews times/decade and the city is big but is very interesting, much more scenic than flat Houston and more varied than Tampa which is mostly beaches and golf.

Answer 9

It really depens what you like. I have been to Seattle and love it, but would probably not want to live there. Too expensive and they can go weeks without seeing the sun. Tampa is a booming city, and if you like warm sunny weather it couldnt get much better. Of course you have to deal with tourists and crowds often, but you would have to do that in Seattle also.

My order would be.
1. Tampa.
2. Seatle
3. Houston ( very distant 3rd)

Answer 10

Live Houston Weather