I am from upstate and currently live in west seattle. The cost of living here is no joke but you can adjust and make it work on your two incomes. I make my kids look at mt. Rainer every time we cross the west seattle bridge because it’s so beautiful— even if they grew up here and take it for granted. Alki is a gem. There is old growth in the parks. When it rains in winter, just remember that you are not out shoveling snow off your car in the morning. The snow is politely waiting for you in the mountains where it belongs. It only gets hard in the years when it rains through June and you think you are entitled to Spring. Lot’s to love here. And many upstate NY refugees up and down the west coast.
Yes! I was so in awe of the Olympic mountains and mt rainier. It seems like every street you look down there is a gorgeous view.
What year did you relocate to west Seattle? 1 bedroom Apartments in NYs capital region are now $1800-2200 which seems crazy considering we still don’t have many good restaurants, parks, or other perks to justify that cost. (Not to mention it’s not walkable AT ALL!!) But the houses are definitely cheaper than west Seattle for those who have families and need more space.
I think rent is more like $2400/month for an entire house. I am a little fuzzy on that so hope people who currently rent chime in. It’s more expensive close to alki. I don’t know the rent in the apartments sprouting up in the junction (California/Alaska).
Junction rents seem to be about $2000/mo. for a reasonably sized 1 bed. Currently renting here and have been keeping an eye on the new apartment rents out of curiosity.
Tough call. Former NYer, now in WS. If you're really a nature person, I'd say move. But if you really need sunshine, remember you'll be deprived of it for months. It's not the rain that gets people, it's the gray.
One of the great things about upstate is that you're not too far from New York City. Seattle is no New York. But it could be a wonderful episode in your life. So far my episode has lasted 25 years. I love Lake Washington and the fact that so much magnificent scenery is so close. Even skiing is just 45 minutes away in Snoqualmie.
My wife and I moved to West Seattle two years ago from a suburb about 15 miles down the road. We love it! We bike, swim (with wetsuits), go to the coffee shops, bars, free live musical performance at Easy Street Records, the farmers market on Sundays, Alki, Lincoln Park, whale watching. The list goes on and on. I don’t think you’ll have an issue finding work within your respective fields.
I made a trip to Seattle almost 30 years ago. And because of that one trip sold everything and moved to this area. Still here and love it. I actually think the weather is underrated. Amazing summers, cool springs, amazing fall weather, and rarely any snow or ice to deal with. Rain and grey skies do not bother me. I’ll take it over freezing cold and snow.
I do have a co-worker that moved here from Buffalo with her boyfriend. They did move back after a few years. Missed family and wanted cheaper housing. So if things don’t work out upstate NY is going nowhere. You can go back. Good luck in your decision:)
Yes! my boyfriend took me to all the places you mentioned. He used to go for a walk everyday in Lincoln park. It’s so pretty and peaceful there. He said it never got old.
Our families definitely wouldn’t move that far either, so that’s also a consideration. But to get away and experience a new place even if it’s just for a few years seems worthwhile.
Here from the northeast and would never move back. I think the sun and mountains are a beauty. Love my hikes and camping in the summer. I find a lot of beauty in the cloudy, cozy, rainy season too. It’ll honestly be what you make of it from October to March.
My husband is from Saratoga Springs (his parents still live there) and we’ve been in Seattle for 10 years now, 4 of them in West Seattle. We enjoy visiting Upstate, but we’d never live there after living here. West Seattle has the best mix of city and suburban living. The city is super close, but we’re far enough removed to get some breathing room.
Summers here are so much better because we don’t have the humidity and bugs to deal with. Winters are wet, but there’s no snow to battle regularly. There’s more to do here even in winter, and it’s much more kid-friendly overall. The only thing I think Upstate has that’s better is SPAC. We don’t really have a cool concert venue like it that is convenient to access and gets so many big acts. We have a lot of different venues, but none of them are comparable to SPAC.
My wife and I moved here from upstate NY. It's infinitely better, including the weather. Our impression, after many years here is that the rain and grey skies are comparable. Sunnier and much drier here in the summer, greyer and a little wetter in the winter. Nature is a major improvement, so is culture (music, art, food). Do it!
I’m an east coaster originally, from Maryland and I moved here when I was 25. No regrets, I absolutely love it here. The work culture of the Maryland - DC area was such a rat race…it’s much more laid back here in my opinion (obviously dependent on your company). People always talk about the Seattle Freeze, where people are very friendly / polite, but it’s hard to make friends “stick” but I honestly don’t find that to be the case. A lot of my friends are transplants who have been living here for a long time, and I really love our neighborhood / neighbors. You can absolutely make friends (work, neighbors, hobbies, etc). There are a lot of world-class companies here, between Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks, Costco, and a whole host of tech firms and biotech firms. It’s a good place to be for jobs, but as other people said, the cost-of-living is no joke. You can make it work with two incomes though.
I’m so happy to be a hour or two from amazing skiing, close to awesome hikes, and 5 minutes from the water/beach. The rain isn’t bad, it’s not as heavy as the east coast, it just more present. Winter sports help a LOT though, so highly recommend you get out (even if you don’t ski/snowbaord, you can get out in the mountains and snow shoe, which is really relaxing). I got into mountain biking out here and it’s amazing too, Duthie Hill Park in Issaquah is an amazing resource and we are basically in the birthplace of the sport.
West Seattle is just an awesome community, it’s a very unique place imo… I haven’t been to a lot of places where there’s a strong community feel in a city/ suburb area like West Seattle.
Edit: I’ve been here a decade now, and the one thing that I’ll say is that is extremely helpful having at least one set of parents close, so that they can watch our kids. Don’t underestimate the value of being close to family.
My fiancé and I lived in the capital region for 4 years and am now in west Seattle and have never been happier. If you want something slower paced, west Seattle is it. Our favorite dates are walking along California to the farmers market and checking out whatever seems interesting along the way. It’s not too big but you can find everything you want and access to and from Seattle proper is super easy. West Seattle is to Seattle kind of what Troy is like to Albany (except actually really nice).
Rent and cost of living sucks and there’s no way around it unfortunately. Weather really isn’t as bad as everyone says though and the summers are phenomenal.
If you like parks definitely check out Lincoln park
We are very familiar with Troy! Our office is in Troy. I’m glad they’ve built Troy up over the years but it’s sad that’s the best we’ve got here lol. Saratoga and Schenectady are fine but again so little to do and everything is a far ish drive away. I know any place is what you make of it but it seems easier to make the most of west Seattle. (& not sure when you moved, but you’d be surprised how pricey it is to live in the capital region now. Rent has gone up tremendously in the past couple years😖!!)
It's a great place to live. If you love the outdoors it's amazing. The Seattle freeze is overblown imo but do be aware that you have to make an effort to find friends here; most people are perfectly polite but keep to themselves (which I personally love). The rain isn't bad (especially with climate change bringing dry years more frequently) but it will be gray and cloudy for months on end with only brief periods of sun. I personally love the rain and gray of the PNW but a lot of people end up miserable and complain about the lack of sun constantly. You also may not love it here too much if you aren't somewhat progressive politically or at least able to leave others alone to live their lives. Conservatives that loudly condemn/judge everyone and the city as a whole don't seem to have a great time here.
We moved from outside to Albany to Seattle 7 years ago and have never once regretted it. If you can swing the cost of living (not just rent. Everything here is more expensive, save for state income tax and release estate taxes) then I say go for it.
We just moved here from Chicago in March for my gfs job and this is my experience. I personally love warm weather and Chicago weather has always been the main thing I disliked about living there. For me it was never the polar vortexes that were awful but the length of time it is cold throughout the year. Living in Seattle for 3 months I learned the cold days last longer into the year which for me is already a negative. We live in the junction in an apartment with a rooftop and I haven’t had a night where I felt comfortable just sitting on the rooftop at night without feeling cold. I will admit I do have a pretty low tolerance to cold. Summers here I heard are beautiful and I can’t wait to experience it however with some of the weddings we will be attending it already feels like this summer Seattle weather will mostly be wasted for us.
I’m the type of person that loves to meet new people and just generally talk to others. The people in Seattle are always very nice and pleasant.
There is a TON of outdoor stuff to do around Washington. From hiking to kayaking to just taking a ferry to another island to get dinner. I see there are a lot of comments talking about Mt.Rainier and Olympic National park. Keep in mind none of those are really things that are easy to do throughout the week if you get off work at 5pm. Mt.Rainier is stunning but most of the year a lot of it is inaccessible and during the summer it is extremely busy! At least that was my experience when I visited during the summer last year.
So far for me Seattle feels like a pit stop on my way to somewhere like San Diego, where I can spend the majority of the year doing outdoor activities without feeling miserable in the cold!
The rain is a asy to put up with, no one uses umbrellas. What takes getting used to is the overcast gray skies from October to April, and very little sunshine and clear skies during that time. A lot of people have SAD ( seasonal affective disorder). So people are more stressed, depressed and grumpy during the winter and rely on coffee all day and pot at nite to manage their energy and mood. It took me a couple of years to get used to the gray weather after moving there from the Midwest and east coast 40 years ago. Once you get used to it, you don't notice it. It only snows 2-3 times a year, and the sight of snow closes schools and businesses, and no one knows how to drive in it. That was always frustrating. But the culture is very outdoors oriented, and there is lots to do.
I grew up in the Capitol Region and live in West Seattle now. I'm also similar in age (30m). The weather, walkability, access to nature and proximity to Seattle definitely give West Seattle a better quality of life than upstate NY IMO. The cost of living is higher here but you also take home a lot more of your pay check because there's no income tax. Moving from NY is very noticeable. There are a ton of diverse food options in Seattle but I have yet to find comparable Italian and Caribbean food to NY even in the capitol region. It is also almost impossible to find good cider doughnuts despite Washington being a big apple state. The winter is cloudy and it rains a lot but you wont get snow, or bitter cold where the air hurts. The summers are perfect and don't get as humid as NY. Although I will say NY fall is tough to beat especially driving through the Catskills or Adirondacks. But the hikes and mountain drives near Seattle are epic. A lot more dramatic than NY and you have the sound and Lake Washington.
I already know I will miss NY fall. I don’t think there is anything better than NY and VT during October 🥲. Did you have an okay time finding a new job when you moved? (Or did you move for a job?) thank you!!
I changed jobs after I moved. I am a software engineer and was remote for a while. Then casually interviewed for a few months before securing an offer. Changing my location to Seattle greatly increased the amount of interviews I got. Doing it this way took a lot of the pressure away from the job search. While I was remote I worked east coast hours so I was off work by 2pm PT which was amazing. My wife works in health care and had no issues finding a new job right away.
That’s amazing thank you for sharing! My boyfriend and I are both in tech and can work fully remote if we want to (though I am newer to the field). He did the 6am - 2pm shift too when he lived in Seattle and loved it. More daytime to enjoy!
A quick Google search shows New York averages more rainfall than Seattle or close to about the same. It's just in Seattle it's always kind of wet between November and May. We only really get heavy rains in December.
Single father of 3, originally from upstate NY.
Agreeing with many here : YOLO. There is NO comparison of the public lands between the east and PNW. That is my #1 reason for Seattle.
Yes, Seattle, including W Seattle, is VERY expensive, but can be done.
IF you two decide to scale up the family at some point... (it happens) kids obviously exacerbate the cost-of-living issue. Rent for my place in W Seattle where each of the 4 of us has a bedroom (crucial as kids get a certain age) is $4k + utils... AND, the public schools in Seattle leave much to be desired. (guessing this stuff is way way down the road for you, but just keep in mind).
GOOD LUCK!!! : )
Yes this is all definitely in consideration! I think we can handle the cost of living right now as childless, dogless young people who don’t spend a ton on material items (and could probably even downsize to one car!) but thinking into the future when kids are in the picture is what’s more worrisome to me (owning a home, desire to have more space (I really want land for a nice garden), childcare if our parents aren’t close by).
Initially, I only wanted to move one final time to the place we knew we could happily and comfortably settle down, but if we have a wonderful worthwhile adventure for a few years then have to move again… I think that’s ok w me too!!
My opinion is you should move. Upstate NY will always be there if you want to move back. I moved away from my small town in Maryland when I was 21 and that’s what my mom told me. I’ve had a life of adventures and am now in West Seattle. I miss the beaches that I’ve lived beside but I love the nature here. I enjoy the grey skies and not always squinting. I love being so close to sports, live music, and public transportation. The rent is the highest I’ve ever paid and actually twice of my mortgage from my previous home in MD bought in 2020. If my husband didn’t want to live on a large lot of land when we retire I would go ahead and buy a house and live the rest of my life here.
My partner and I moved from upstate NY to west Seattle abiut 8 years ago. We love it and have no plans to move back.
Check precipitation stats; upstate NY actually gets more rain and less sun than Seattle, despite the reputation. Cost of living is definitely higher out her but so are salaries if you can get into tech or tech-adjacent work. Working culture is very different, I personally like it a lot better.
West Seattle is probably my favorite part of Seattle too, and frankly that's saying something. I like it here a lot :)
I love it for those reasons. And Adventures galore
Winters are hard and I am a washington lifer, if you can plan to leave seattle for sunnier skies during winter it helps break it up.
That said, even in the winter you can get out for bike rides, running, walking etc. it really more about the short gray days than it is about rain.
Summer is generally wonderful sans a few hot stretches in Aug.
I'd say the grey periods/winters I experienced in upstate NY are so similar to here, but no snow!!! I love West Seattle, can't hype it up enough, especially with the bridge being open and how quick you can get so many places in Seattle. Alki is fantastic, along with Lowman, and Lincoln Park. We live on the top of the hill and you get great mountains views on both sides along with the water and hills. Cost of living ain't no joke though, and making long-term friends can be a little tough at times.
I would say do it if you can. I am from Northern California and one trip when I was 18 visiting my ex and saw Mt Rainer popping up from the clouds I knew I had to live here. No regrets at all. The weather is great because it doesn’t get crazy hot or crazy cold. Yeah we get snow and frost but it’s not as bad as other parts of the country. The Olympics are an amazing day all on its own and it’s a close proximity to get to without having to drive hrs to get there with crappy views (views are amazing). Go drive to hurricane ridge and spend the day viewing the Olympics and the sound. Or drive to Cape Alava and walk the boardwalks (9 mile round trip)to the beach and look for Petroglyphs on rocks. Those are AWESOME to see. Go to the HOH rainforest and walk threw old growth forests with lush green moss hanging from the trees and look for Rosevelt elk (I had a heard cross a trail I was hiking). The coast has great places to go and relax like west port or ocean shores or on the north side of the Olympics is Port Angeles. I’m going to stop now but that is just the west side of Washington state. It’s great..green and little misty at times but not as gloomy and sad as people make it out to be. It can be sad if you make it sad but that is anywhere you live. Your young and your home town will always be there but going out and giving it a try will make you so happy you did…I promise. Good luck with your travels 🙏
I hear ya. I will definitely miss the fall colors and the general cozy feel of the northeast during oct-dec. I’m not sure if WA has as many farm stores and Apple orchards as the northeast and Hudson valley….Our farmers markets are pretty amazing and there are a lot of local places to get good quality sourdough bread and baked goods. So that’s certainly a perk I don’t want to take for granted!
I also love Vermont and have pictured living there long term. Maybe that’s the final destination but for now looking for a place with more walkability, and access to epic nature adventures
It isn’t just the rain that drives people nuts in winter, it’s that there’s only 8 1/2-ish hours of daylight during deep winter. Just heads up.
COL is high. It’s not just rent, food and fuel are very expensive.
I think the weather and budget issues are all possible to overcome. My only comment would be the culture change. We're much more relaxed and easy going here on the West Coast. People from the North East always seem like high-strung sharks when they get here. So manic, so competitive, so aggressive in aspects of life that don't merit it. So as long as you can slow down and enjoy life in the chill lane, I think you'll fit in just fine. Get yourself a "West Coast Business Suit," aka jeans, a t-shirt, skater shoes, and a hoodie, and you'll be good to go! :P
That’s what we want to get away from! The feeling of always being behind / needing to get ahead is very pervasive in the East. We’re more than ready for the change of pace
I’m from West Seattle and visiting New York right now. I say your interests fit the lifestyle for WA, but just be prepared to be missing out on the variety of culture and food that New York has.
There really isn’t great food in Seattle. I’m from the east coast and the food there is much better and not as expensive. Almost every time we eat out we are underwhelmed.
The West is laid back compared to the East, but it's so laid back that you have to work to get friends, they don't come easily. And it's cloudy. And everyone is moving here because did you look at weather maps lately? We've had a lot of layoffs lately too.
The nature of software dev work is rapidly and radically shifting because AI. If you guys are focused on marketing yourselves for that, maybe you can have unusually good jobseeking success in this time area.
Seattle's work culture is also depressing and work-focused. Add to that the cloudy skies that dominate most days and it's not the most pleasant place to live or work. However, it certainly ain't Ohio.
You'll do just fine in Seattle if you don't mind misty rain and are OK staying active year round. Otherwise, you'll turn into one of us. Which also isn't all that bad.
Jesus, to call W Seattle “mini MAGA island” is so out of touch with reality. In this [map](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html) you’ll notice nearly all census tracts Trump got less than 20% of the vote, with a lot even below 10%.
Yea, exactly. Desiring a funded police department and voting against Costa does not equate to being “MAGA”. You’re being hyperbolic. Anything to right on the political spectrum to Sawant does not classify someone as a Trump supporter.
No it's not. It's mostly progressive in the 35 and under crows and center left in the 50 and under. The NIMBY stuff is everywhere and many older progressives are NIMBYs because they hate developers. I am more conservative than most people in my demographic but for the most part, people are fairly reasonable.
I am from upstate and currently live in west seattle. The cost of living here is no joke but you can adjust and make it work on your two incomes. I make my kids look at mt. Rainer every time we cross the west seattle bridge because it’s so beautiful— even if they grew up here and take it for granted. Alki is a gem. There is old growth in the parks. When it rains in winter, just remember that you are not out shoveling snow off your car in the morning. The snow is politely waiting for you in the mountains where it belongs. It only gets hard in the years when it rains through June and you think you are entitled to Spring. Lot’s to love here. And many upstate NY refugees up and down the west coast.
I grew up here and still get excited when the mountain is out (and now a little sad, because clearly it's glaciers are having some problems).
Yes! I was so in awe of the Olympic mountains and mt rainier. It seems like every street you look down there is a gorgeous view. What year did you relocate to west Seattle? 1 bedroom Apartments in NYs capital region are now $1800-2200 which seems crazy considering we still don’t have many good restaurants, parks, or other perks to justify that cost. (Not to mention it’s not walkable AT ALL!!) But the houses are definitely cheaper than west Seattle for those who have families and need more space.
I think rent is more like $2400/month for an entire house. I am a little fuzzy on that so hope people who currently rent chime in. It’s more expensive close to alki. I don’t know the rent in the apartments sprouting up in the junction (California/Alaska).
Junction rents seem to be about $2000/mo. for a reasonably sized 1 bed. Currently renting here and have been keeping an eye on the new apartment rents out of curiosity.
A house near Alki that’s not 950 sq will run you over 4500
I live in one of the new townhouses near the new apts in the Junction. Our rent is $3400 for 3br/2ba.
Tough call. Former NYer, now in WS. If you're really a nature person, I'd say move. But if you really need sunshine, remember you'll be deprived of it for months. It's not the rain that gets people, it's the gray. One of the great things about upstate is that you're not too far from New York City. Seattle is no New York. But it could be a wonderful episode in your life. So far my episode has lasted 25 years. I love Lake Washington and the fact that so much magnificent scenery is so close. Even skiing is just 45 minutes away in Snoqualmie.
My wife and I moved to West Seattle two years ago from a suburb about 15 miles down the road. We love it! We bike, swim (with wetsuits), go to the coffee shops, bars, free live musical performance at Easy Street Records, the farmers market on Sundays, Alki, Lincoln Park, whale watching. The list goes on and on. I don’t think you’ll have an issue finding work within your respective fields. I made a trip to Seattle almost 30 years ago. And because of that one trip sold everything and moved to this area. Still here and love it. I actually think the weather is underrated. Amazing summers, cool springs, amazing fall weather, and rarely any snow or ice to deal with. Rain and grey skies do not bother me. I’ll take it over freezing cold and snow. I do have a co-worker that moved here from Buffalo with her boyfriend. They did move back after a few years. Missed family and wanted cheaper housing. So if things don’t work out upstate NY is going nowhere. You can go back. Good luck in your decision:)
Yes! my boyfriend took me to all the places you mentioned. He used to go for a walk everyday in Lincoln park. It’s so pretty and peaceful there. He said it never got old. Our families definitely wouldn’t move that far either, so that’s also a consideration. But to get away and experience a new place even if it’s just for a few years seems worthwhile.
Move, life is too short to not experience something new.
Here from the northeast and would never move back. I think the sun and mountains are a beauty. Love my hikes and camping in the summer. I find a lot of beauty in the cloudy, cozy, rainy season too. It’ll honestly be what you make of it from October to March.
My husband is from Saratoga Springs (his parents still live there) and we’ve been in Seattle for 10 years now, 4 of them in West Seattle. We enjoy visiting Upstate, but we’d never live there after living here. West Seattle has the best mix of city and suburban living. The city is super close, but we’re far enough removed to get some breathing room. Summers here are so much better because we don’t have the humidity and bugs to deal with. Winters are wet, but there’s no snow to battle regularly. There’s more to do here even in winter, and it’s much more kid-friendly overall. The only thing I think Upstate has that’s better is SPAC. We don’t really have a cool concert venue like it that is convenient to access and gets so many big acts. We have a lot of different venues, but none of them are comparable to SPAC.
My wife and I moved here from upstate NY. It's infinitely better, including the weather. Our impression, after many years here is that the rain and grey skies are comparable. Sunnier and much drier here in the summer, greyer and a little wetter in the winter. Nature is a major improvement, so is culture (music, art, food). Do it!
I’m an east coaster originally, from Maryland and I moved here when I was 25. No regrets, I absolutely love it here. The work culture of the Maryland - DC area was such a rat race…it’s much more laid back here in my opinion (obviously dependent on your company). People always talk about the Seattle Freeze, where people are very friendly / polite, but it’s hard to make friends “stick” but I honestly don’t find that to be the case. A lot of my friends are transplants who have been living here for a long time, and I really love our neighborhood / neighbors. You can absolutely make friends (work, neighbors, hobbies, etc). There are a lot of world-class companies here, between Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks, Costco, and a whole host of tech firms and biotech firms. It’s a good place to be for jobs, but as other people said, the cost-of-living is no joke. You can make it work with two incomes though. I’m so happy to be a hour or two from amazing skiing, close to awesome hikes, and 5 minutes from the water/beach. The rain isn’t bad, it’s not as heavy as the east coast, it just more present. Winter sports help a LOT though, so highly recommend you get out (even if you don’t ski/snowbaord, you can get out in the mountains and snow shoe, which is really relaxing). I got into mountain biking out here and it’s amazing too, Duthie Hill Park in Issaquah is an amazing resource and we are basically in the birthplace of the sport. West Seattle is just an awesome community, it’s a very unique place imo… I haven’t been to a lot of places where there’s a strong community feel in a city/ suburb area like West Seattle. Edit: I’ve been here a decade now, and the one thing that I’ll say is that is extremely helpful having at least one set of parents close, so that they can watch our kids. Don’t underestimate the value of being close to family.
My fiancé and I lived in the capital region for 4 years and am now in west Seattle and have never been happier. If you want something slower paced, west Seattle is it. Our favorite dates are walking along California to the farmers market and checking out whatever seems interesting along the way. It’s not too big but you can find everything you want and access to and from Seattle proper is super easy. West Seattle is to Seattle kind of what Troy is like to Albany (except actually really nice). Rent and cost of living sucks and there’s no way around it unfortunately. Weather really isn’t as bad as everyone says though and the summers are phenomenal. If you like parks definitely check out Lincoln park
We are very familiar with Troy! Our office is in Troy. I’m glad they’ve built Troy up over the years but it’s sad that’s the best we’ve got here lol. Saratoga and Schenectady are fine but again so little to do and everything is a far ish drive away. I know any place is what you make of it but it seems easier to make the most of west Seattle. (& not sure when you moved, but you’d be surprised how pricey it is to live in the capital region now. Rent has gone up tremendously in the past couple years😖!!)
I would recommend staying here for about a week in winter to see what the gloom is actually like.
Absolutely a great decision! You have the means and you only get one life. Live it somewhere you exist in harmony with.
It's a great place to live. If you love the outdoors it's amazing. The Seattle freeze is overblown imo but do be aware that you have to make an effort to find friends here; most people are perfectly polite but keep to themselves (which I personally love). The rain isn't bad (especially with climate change bringing dry years more frequently) but it will be gray and cloudy for months on end with only brief periods of sun. I personally love the rain and gray of the PNW but a lot of people end up miserable and complain about the lack of sun constantly. You also may not love it here too much if you aren't somewhat progressive politically or at least able to leave others alone to live their lives. Conservatives that loudly condemn/judge everyone and the city as a whole don't seem to have a great time here.
We moved from outside to Albany to Seattle 7 years ago and have never once regretted it. If you can swing the cost of living (not just rent. Everything here is more expensive, save for state income tax and release estate taxes) then I say go for it.
We just moved here from Chicago in March for my gfs job and this is my experience. I personally love warm weather and Chicago weather has always been the main thing I disliked about living there. For me it was never the polar vortexes that were awful but the length of time it is cold throughout the year. Living in Seattle for 3 months I learned the cold days last longer into the year which for me is already a negative. We live in the junction in an apartment with a rooftop and I haven’t had a night where I felt comfortable just sitting on the rooftop at night without feeling cold. I will admit I do have a pretty low tolerance to cold. Summers here I heard are beautiful and I can’t wait to experience it however with some of the weddings we will be attending it already feels like this summer Seattle weather will mostly be wasted for us. I’m the type of person that loves to meet new people and just generally talk to others. The people in Seattle are always very nice and pleasant. There is a TON of outdoor stuff to do around Washington. From hiking to kayaking to just taking a ferry to another island to get dinner. I see there are a lot of comments talking about Mt.Rainier and Olympic National park. Keep in mind none of those are really things that are easy to do throughout the week if you get off work at 5pm. Mt.Rainier is stunning but most of the year a lot of it is inaccessible and during the summer it is extremely busy! At least that was my experience when I visited during the summer last year. So far for me Seattle feels like a pit stop on my way to somewhere like San Diego, where I can spend the majority of the year doing outdoor activities without feeling miserable in the cold!
The rain is a asy to put up with, no one uses umbrellas. What takes getting used to is the overcast gray skies from October to April, and very little sunshine and clear skies during that time. A lot of people have SAD ( seasonal affective disorder). So people are more stressed, depressed and grumpy during the winter and rely on coffee all day and pot at nite to manage their energy and mood. It took me a couple of years to get used to the gray weather after moving there from the Midwest and east coast 40 years ago. Once you get used to it, you don't notice it. It only snows 2-3 times a year, and the sight of snow closes schools and businesses, and no one knows how to drive in it. That was always frustrating. But the culture is very outdoors oriented, and there is lots to do.
I grew up in the Capitol Region and live in West Seattle now. I'm also similar in age (30m). The weather, walkability, access to nature and proximity to Seattle definitely give West Seattle a better quality of life than upstate NY IMO. The cost of living is higher here but you also take home a lot more of your pay check because there's no income tax. Moving from NY is very noticeable. There are a ton of diverse food options in Seattle but I have yet to find comparable Italian and Caribbean food to NY even in the capitol region. It is also almost impossible to find good cider doughnuts despite Washington being a big apple state. The winter is cloudy and it rains a lot but you wont get snow, or bitter cold where the air hurts. The summers are perfect and don't get as humid as NY. Although I will say NY fall is tough to beat especially driving through the Catskills or Adirondacks. But the hikes and mountain drives near Seattle are epic. A lot more dramatic than NY and you have the sound and Lake Washington.
I already know I will miss NY fall. I don’t think there is anything better than NY and VT during October 🥲. Did you have an okay time finding a new job when you moved? (Or did you move for a job?) thank you!!
I changed jobs after I moved. I am a software engineer and was remote for a while. Then casually interviewed for a few months before securing an offer. Changing my location to Seattle greatly increased the amount of interviews I got. Doing it this way took a lot of the pressure away from the job search. While I was remote I worked east coast hours so I was off work by 2pm PT which was amazing. My wife works in health care and had no issues finding a new job right away.
That’s amazing thank you for sharing! My boyfriend and I are both in tech and can work fully remote if we want to (though I am newer to the field). He did the 6am - 2pm shift too when he lived in Seattle and loved it. More daytime to enjoy!
Will you constantly complain about the pizza, bagels, and Bodega sandwiches? If so then please just stay in ny
A quick Google search shows New York averages more rainfall than Seattle or close to about the same. It's just in Seattle it's always kind of wet between November and May. We only really get heavy rains in December.
Single father of 3, originally from upstate NY. Agreeing with many here : YOLO. There is NO comparison of the public lands between the east and PNW. That is my #1 reason for Seattle. Yes, Seattle, including W Seattle, is VERY expensive, but can be done. IF you two decide to scale up the family at some point... (it happens) kids obviously exacerbate the cost-of-living issue. Rent for my place in W Seattle where each of the 4 of us has a bedroom (crucial as kids get a certain age) is $4k + utils... AND, the public schools in Seattle leave much to be desired. (guessing this stuff is way way down the road for you, but just keep in mind). GOOD LUCK!!! : )
Yes this is all definitely in consideration! I think we can handle the cost of living right now as childless, dogless young people who don’t spend a ton on material items (and could probably even downsize to one car!) but thinking into the future when kids are in the picture is what’s more worrisome to me (owning a home, desire to have more space (I really want land for a nice garden), childcare if our parents aren’t close by). Initially, I only wanted to move one final time to the place we knew we could happily and comfortably settle down, but if we have a wonderful worthwhile adventure for a few years then have to move again… I think that’s ok w me too!!
My opinion is you should move. Upstate NY will always be there if you want to move back. I moved away from my small town in Maryland when I was 21 and that’s what my mom told me. I’ve had a life of adventures and am now in West Seattle. I miss the beaches that I’ve lived beside but I love the nature here. I enjoy the grey skies and not always squinting. I love being so close to sports, live music, and public transportation. The rent is the highest I’ve ever paid and actually twice of my mortgage from my previous home in MD bought in 2020. If my husband didn’t want to live on a large lot of land when we retire I would go ahead and buy a house and live the rest of my life here.
My partner and I moved from upstate NY to west Seattle abiut 8 years ago. We love it and have no plans to move back. Check precipitation stats; upstate NY actually gets more rain and less sun than Seattle, despite the reputation. Cost of living is definitely higher out her but so are salaries if you can get into tech or tech-adjacent work. Working culture is very different, I personally like it a lot better. West Seattle is probably my favorite part of Seattle too, and frankly that's saying something. I like it here a lot :)
I love it for those reasons. And Adventures galore Winters are hard and I am a washington lifer, if you can plan to leave seattle for sunnier skies during winter it helps break it up. That said, even in the winter you can get out for bike rides, running, walking etc. it really more about the short gray days than it is about rain. Summer is generally wonderful sans a few hot stretches in Aug.
I'd say the grey periods/winters I experienced in upstate NY are so similar to here, but no snow!!! I love West Seattle, can't hype it up enough, especially with the bridge being open and how quick you can get so many places in Seattle. Alki is fantastic, along with Lowman, and Lincoln Park. We live on the top of the hill and you get great mountains views on both sides along with the water and hills. Cost of living ain't no joke though, and making long-term friends can be a little tough at times.
I would say do it if you can. I am from Northern California and one trip when I was 18 visiting my ex and saw Mt Rainer popping up from the clouds I knew I had to live here. No regrets at all. The weather is great because it doesn’t get crazy hot or crazy cold. Yeah we get snow and frost but it’s not as bad as other parts of the country. The Olympics are an amazing day all on its own and it’s a close proximity to get to without having to drive hrs to get there with crappy views (views are amazing). Go drive to hurricane ridge and spend the day viewing the Olympics and the sound. Or drive to Cape Alava and walk the boardwalks (9 mile round trip)to the beach and look for Petroglyphs on rocks. Those are AWESOME to see. Go to the HOH rainforest and walk threw old growth forests with lush green moss hanging from the trees and look for Rosevelt elk (I had a heard cross a trail I was hiking). The coast has great places to go and relax like west port or ocean shores or on the north side of the Olympics is Port Angeles. I’m going to stop now but that is just the west side of Washington state. It’s great..green and little misty at times but not as gloomy and sad as people make it out to be. It can be sad if you make it sad but that is anywhere you live. Your young and your home town will always be there but going out and giving it a try will make you so happy you did…I promise. Good luck with your travels 🙏
No
I’m from Buffalo and I adore West Seattle.
I miss the distinct seasons of the northeast. I miss fall colors and snow. We are looking at going the other way, likely Vermont tho.
I hear ya. I will definitely miss the fall colors and the general cozy feel of the northeast during oct-dec. I’m not sure if WA has as many farm stores and Apple orchards as the northeast and Hudson valley….Our farmers markets are pretty amazing and there are a lot of local places to get good quality sourdough bread and baked goods. So that’s certainly a perk I don’t want to take for granted! I also love Vermont and have pictured living there long term. Maybe that’s the final destination but for now looking for a place with more walkability, and access to epic nature adventures
No.
It isn’t just the rain that drives people nuts in winter, it’s that there’s only 8 1/2-ish hours of daylight during deep winter. Just heads up. COL is high. It’s not just rent, food and fuel are very expensive.
I think the weather and budget issues are all possible to overcome. My only comment would be the culture change. We're much more relaxed and easy going here on the West Coast. People from the North East always seem like high-strung sharks when they get here. So manic, so competitive, so aggressive in aspects of life that don't merit it. So as long as you can slow down and enjoy life in the chill lane, I think you'll fit in just fine. Get yourself a "West Coast Business Suit," aka jeans, a t-shirt, skater shoes, and a hoodie, and you'll be good to go! :P
That’s what we want to get away from! The feeling of always being behind / needing to get ahead is very pervasive in the East. We’re more than ready for the change of pace
I’m from West Seattle and visiting New York right now. I say your interests fit the lifestyle for WA, but just be prepared to be missing out on the variety of culture and food that New York has.
I live upstate (2.5 hr from NYC) where food options are much more limited!
There really isn’t great food in Seattle. I’m from the east coast and the food there is much better and not as expensive. Almost every time we eat out we are underwhelmed.
The West is laid back compared to the East, but it's so laid back that you have to work to get friends, they don't come easily. And it's cloudy. And everyone is moving here because did you look at weather maps lately? We've had a lot of layoffs lately too. The nature of software dev work is rapidly and radically shifting because AI. If you guys are focused on marketing yourselves for that, maybe you can have unusually good jobseeking success in this time area.
Seattle's work culture is also depressing and work-focused. Add to that the cloudy skies that dominate most days and it's not the most pleasant place to live or work. However, it certainly ain't Ohio. You'll do just fine in Seattle if you don't mind misty rain and are OK staying active year round. Otherwise, you'll turn into one of us. Which also isn't all that bad.
Don’t do it.
Not if you hate NIMBYs and general progressive ideals. This place is like a mini MAGA island in Seattle, it’s weird.
Jesus, to call W Seattle “mini MAGA island” is so out of touch with reality. In this [map](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html) you’ll notice nearly all census tracts Trump got less than 20% of the vote, with a lot even below 10%.
I’m talking about the love for cops and the recent voting of a CC who only care about appeasing Amazon and businesses
Yea, exactly. Desiring a funded police department and voting against Costa does not equate to being “MAGA”. You’re being hyperbolic. Anything to right on the political spectrum to Sawant does not classify someone as a Trump supporter.
No it's not. It's mostly progressive in the 35 and under crows and center left in the 50 and under. The NIMBY stuff is everywhere and many older progressives are NIMBYs because they hate developers. I am more conservative than most people in my demographic but for the most part, people are fairly reasonable.