What is it like to live in Seattle?

Question

I would like to know what it is like to live in Seattle. I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area and I'm considering a move to Seattle. I've been to the city and really like it but I don't know what it is like to live there. Some of the things I have questions about are:

1) Is housing or rent expensive in Seattle?

2) Are there a lot of jobs in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry in the Seattle area?

3) How is the quality of life in Seattle compared to San Francisco or Los Angeles (crime, schools, weather, ect)?

4) What is the dating scene like in Seattle?

Any feedback from people who live or lived in Seattle would be great!!

Answer 1

Hey, There are striking similarities between San Francisco and Seattle in terms of natural setting, socio-politically, climate wise, and from a economical standpoint. Seattle in some circles is referred as San Francisco North or San Francisco lite. Below are my answers to your questions:

1.) Housing is still cheaper in Seattle than it is in San Francisco by a long shot. But equal or near LA levels. Just about any area in the greater Seattle area is livable just avoid living off of or in the general vicinity of main avenues or hwys i.e. Rainer Ave-South Seattle, hwy 99/Aurora Ave/Pacific hwy both north and south, Delridge Way in West Seattle, and MLK way in South Seattle. Average price of your typical "home" in the Seattle area is around 400K.

2.) The Pharmaceutical/Biotech is growing in Seattle led by the efforts of individuals like Paul Allen and also the University of Washington. Not yet near the levels of such communities as Boston or San Diego but it will get there if the local can keep from being bought out by out state companies lol check the Seattle times and the Seattle pi both have the latest news on biotech within the region.

3.) As I stated before the quality of life in Seattle is very similar to San Francisco. LA on the other hand is night and day different from Seattle but having been both to LA and the bay area these areas are also night and day different from each other. Seattle has very low violent crime compared to other major cities as a matter of fact homicides were the lowest they have been in over a decade. However, Seattle does have high petty theft, property crime and car theft but all in all a pretty safe city. Seattle public schools are struggling to keep kids enrolled. Like most major metros in the country people with middle to upper middle class incomes will send there kids to private schools or live in the suburbs for quality schools. The school situation is no different than San Francisco. Weather believe it or not, San Francisco's weather is very similar to Seattles. Both receive ample rain fall in the months of November, December, and January with Seattle's average precipitation being slightly higher in those months. Seattle has overcast San Francisco has fog for good parts of the year and Seattle is slightly cooler than San Francisco. When its 48 in Seattle its 55 in San Francisco. So not that much of a difference. The biggest difference climate wise is that Seattle gets more rain/overcast during the early spring months i.e. March and April Than San Francisco. Seattle is typically dry from May to mid October. This year has been the exception due to El Nino/global warming. LA climate was depending on where you live is arid desert/meditarranean climate year round. Seattle and San Francisco have more in common than LA and Seattle or LA and San Francisco.

4.) Dating scene in Seattle is what you make of it. Again like San Francisco, Seattle is highly educated, liberal, progressive, counter culture. So if you were able to fit in San Francisco you should have no problem fitting in Seattle in all aspects of life. If your into the outdoors or like going to happy hour you should have no problem. Remember, the focal point for all social activity, i.e. nightlife etc.. is THE CITY not some suburb like LA. In a nutshell, if you decide to move the transition should not be that tough from the bay to Seattle. Just keep an open mind about things and you will be fine. People who don't typically fit Seattle are these right wing self rightous types whose life revolves around suburban living and SUVs and sheltering themselves in cookie cutter communities. Seattle is a city inviting people to explore and be discovered. So many unique great neighborhoods and interesting people

Answer 2

First I'm a Washington native and presumably older than most on Yahoo questions.
Yes rent is very expensive generally although there are areas that are less expensive. Bellevue? It is expensive and very yuppie!
Not to long ago I saw on the news that in fact comparatively to other cities this size that the crime rate in fact IS high. and that only last year Seattle had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.
I love San Francisco. The weather in Seattle is mild also, but I believe we get more rain.
Regardless of the negative comments I enjoy the Seattle area. I have moved several times but also end up coming back here. The close proximity to the ocean and mountains, the many different neighborhoods that make up the area are reasons I like Seattle.
I have lived other places such as the midwest. The people in Seattle are friendly, but distant compared to those in the midwest. Hope this helps as it seems to be a different perspective than you've gotten.

Answer 3

Seattle is an amazing place to live! You never get tired of the mountains, forest and ocean in sight. It is the greenest city I have ever been to and that makes me happy! As to your questions:

1- Housing and Renting is very expensive in the city itself. If you want to live near by, but not in the city is becomes more reasonable. Places like Issiquah and Bellevue would be two places I would consider living. They are both very nice communities and they are less than 30 minutes away from Seattle. Bellevue being about 15 minutes and Issiquah 25-30, of course depending on traffic. A local real estate agencies is called John L Scott. I would visit Johnlscott.com for more housing info and you can also see if anything is in your price range, they also have homes for rent listed as well as condos and apartments!

2- There are a fair amount of jobs available in the Seattle area. Although some jobs are hard to get unless you have a fair resume. Good Luck!

3- The quality of life is different between those two cities. You give and take a few nice features from both. Crime is very low in Seattle. Possibly some of the lowest in the country. Public Schools are very good in Bellevue and Issiquah, although the Seattle School District has been having some problems lately with budget and etc.. If you were to live in Seattle I would enroll my child into a Private School. There are many in Seattle including Lake Side, Bush, Seattle Prep and many more. The weather is actually not nearly as bad as many people think. It does rain quite a bit in Winter and Spring, but hardly ever in the Summer and Fall. I would expect about 3-5 cloudy and sometimes rainy days a week in the winter.

4- The dating scene is not that great in Seattle if you are in your 30's-40's range. Although if you are in your 20's there is some night life around the University of Washington. Frat party's, bars and etc.. If you are in the 30's-40's range then most people meet others through organizations or work.

I personally think Seattle is one of the most fun and enjoyable places to live in the Country. I would recommend it to anyone. With so many activities near by no matter what you enjoy, such as, Skiing, Snowboarding, Water Skiing, Boating, Hiking, Shopping, and etc.... Hope this helps!!!

Answer 4

Being that your coming from the Bay area and that your already living on the west coast I can assure you that you'll love Seattle. I was born and raised in the city and compared to San Fran the housing market will be more affordable and your quality of life will rise. Seattle has a multitude of neighborhoods and a great singles scene and any type of Tech related job can be found in the Seattle area. I've lived most of my years in Queen Anne and Fremont neighborhoods, although they've grown and changed they're still great places to live within the city. Plenty of other great neighborhoods as well, good luck! Also, Bellevue is one of the most yuppie filled cities you'll come across and it's the people that enjoy these snobby greater Seattle areas that have most contributed to Seattle's downfall. Seattle is not the same place it has been but, good luck finding a beautiful community rich people have not tried to take over and mold to their liking.

Answer 5

Seattle is a unique city. Healthy air quality and a diverse topography for a diverse lifestyle. Good weather, alternately dry and wet, which is perfect. Mild winter and warm summer. Many trees, multiracial in some areas. Good atmosphere and attitude. An international city you would be able to make a home as well. You just wish you could walk around all the time, everywhere, if crime was non-existant in the world, Seattle was made for that.
It is part of heaven.

Answer 6

OK. Here's the Seattle 411.
1) Housing is very expensive and the houses that are being built here are usually stacked right on top of each other, are very congested, and have no yard. Doll houses and look-alike homes.
2)Don't know I'm only 13
3)Crime is medium (like any other place) weather. DON'T GET ME STARTED! If you are the type that enjoys seeing the rain and the color gray 90% of the year, then this is the place for you. During the summer it can be a pleasant place to live, but otherwise you could be thinking of suicide.
4)Not allowed in that department.
My recomendation: Stay in San Fran, its warmer.

Answer 7

What's it like to live in Seattle? Wet.

1) Is housing or rent expensive in Seattle?
Very. Extremely. The city is ridiculously expensive. the suburbs are as equally ridiculously expensive. The country is again just as ridiculously expensive.

2) Are there a lot of jobs in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry in the Seattle area?
The people building the biotech corridor (South Lake Union) would certainly like you to think so.

3) How is the quality of life in Seattle compared to San Francisco or Los Angeles (crime, schools, weather, ect)?
Again, wet. 9 months out of the year, very wet.
Do you mean public school? For your kids? I wouldn't go near a city school. The suburban yuppie schools are good.
Crime in the city is bad. Gangs, homeless, etc.
Cops in the suburbs are bored.

4) What is the dating scene like in Seattle?
OK, this doesn't jive with your question number 3, but whatever. If you like the traditional Seattle things, you can certainly find people to do them with (Hiking, skiing, snowboarding, etc) Or if you are college age, or like to act like you are college age or you are a big drinker/partier, you won't have any problems meeting people. Otherwise, it's tough.

Answer 8

How is the diversity in Seattle?

Answer 9

-----Seattle has heavy dew. Other places, its called rain. ---Jim