Tehaleh is part of the Seattle area. This page covers the whole metro.
Outdoorsy, Big-city feel, Historic
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Seattle scores 70 or higher out of 100.
Less so: cozy.
How locals describe Seattle
The words residents use most, from 80 comments on Reddit, City-Data and Quora. Bigger means more people said it. Tap a word to read what they said.
"Seattle is unfortunately VERY expensive to live in. Prices on everything are ridiculously and unaffordably high."
"Seattle is gorgeous, geographically blessed, surrounded by water, mountains, and nature. Cost of living is high."
"Compared to the major cities, it's boring, but there are cool bars in a bunch of neighborhoods."
A walk through Seattle
Places residents talk about, in their words. Each photo is of the place named.
Look around Seattle
Google Street View near the center of town, taken 2023-05. Drag to turn, click the street to move.
Open in Google MapsEveryday life in Seattle
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Around Seattle
What Seattle is known for
Every year
MayNorthwest Folklife Festival: Folklife festival with music and cultural performancesaaa.com
JunSeattle PrideFest & Seattle Pride Parade: Pride celebration with parade and entertainmentstateofwatourism.com
OctEarshot Jazz Festival: Jazz music festivaltravel.usnews.com
Seattle International Film Festival: Film festival showing international and independent filmsstateofwatourism.com
Busiest time
Summer: Peak travel season with largest crowdsaaa.com
On a normal week
Visiting Pike Place Marketen.wikipedia.org
Sailing, skiing, bicycling, camping, hikingen.wikipedia.org
Take a tour of Seattle
"Seattle Washington 🇺🇸 4K City Walking Tour" by Arwin Tours, on YouTube. Not made by Varro.
One resident recommends Chiang's Gourmet for its fish noodles, sweet and sour pork chop, and eggplant.
“Chiang's Gourmet (Maple Leaf/Roosevelt) - the fish noodles, sweet and sour pork chop, the eggplant”
One resident mentioned Monster Mini Golf in Factoria near Bellevue as a blacklight art mini golf spot with arcade games.
“blacklight art mini golf in a dark area, also has arcade games and stuff”
One resident says Hillside Bar in Capitol Hill is the chillest spot to go solo with regulars who create a community feel
“By far the chillest place to go solo. Tons of cool regulars and definitely has a community feel”
From 11 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident says Nectar Lounge is a favorite venue for small scale funk, bluegrass, jam bands, cover bands, and bass music.
“-Nectar Lounge is one of my favorite spots ever, if you like small scale funk, bluegrass, jam bands, cover bands, and bass music, they have it.”
Read the full commentAbout 9 months agoOne resident suggests joining hobby groups, meetups, and clubs like run clubs or scrabble clubs to meet people
“Go out to hobby/activity groups/meetups. Try run clubs. There are fun clubs, orgs, classes, etc for anyone. join a scrabble club or a...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident finds it fairly easy to meet people in Seattle through work, dating, volunteering, and hobby groups
“Work, dating, volunteering, hobby groups, etc. I find it fairly easy to meet people in Seattle,...”
Read the full commentAbout 4 months agoOne resident moved to Seattle and did not know anyone after relocating for a career change
“So I moved here a little over 3 years ago from the Kennewick area for a career change, as I think the majority of us have. I didn’t know anyone here...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident said making friends in Seattle was no harder than in the Bay Area, as long as you put yourself where people gather.
“I don't find Seattle any more or less difficult to make friends within than I found it in the Bay Area. You just have to be where people are...”
Read the full commentIn the last few monthsOne resident describes struggling to meet people and only briefly dating on Hinge since moving to Seattle a year ago
“I’ve lived in Seattle for about a year and have only briefly dated using hinge since I don’t know many people. I am 28f probably averagely attractive.”
Read the full commentAbout 9 months agoOne resident finds the dating scene sad but has enjoyed being single since apps feel overly casual.
“Seattle has a very sad dating scene. Dating apps are all casual and it gets old quick. I've found it absolutely enjoyable being single and...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne resident says Hinge is the main app they use while Tinder and Bumble are full of fake accounts or men only looking for casual encounters.
“Hinge is the main one. Tinder and even bumble have issues with fake accounts or a surplus dudes looking for casual.”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One commenter argued Seattle's nightlife is boring compared to major cities, though cool bars exist in neighborhoods like Ballard and Capitol Hill.
“Compared to the major cities, it's boring, but there are cool bars in a bunch of neighborhoods. You can go out in Ballard, Capitol Hill,...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident says the fastest way to make friends was going to cafes, open mics, restaurants, and bars and befriending local staff
“what's helped me make friends the fastest is going to cafes, open mics, restaurants, bars, and befriending the local staff. ask people to join...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne resident says Hillside Bar in Capitol Hill is the chillest spot to go solo with regulars who create a community feel
“Go to Hillside Bar in Cap Hill! By far the chillest place to go solo. Tons of cool regulars and definitely has a community feel if you go often...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident recommends Stampede Cocktail Bar for great cocktails and then Bar House for cheap beer and death metal music
“Top 5 Bars in Seattle for Great Cocktails. Stampede Cocktail Bar and then going down the street to Bar House for cheap beer and Death Metal.”
Read the full commentOne resident who relocated from the Bay Area said they could not really think of anything they wish they had known.
“I'm currently living in the Bay Area, and I recently took an opportunity to move to Seattle via intercompany transfer. For me, it I really can't think...”
Read the full commentAbout 10 months agoOne resident said a friend described Seattleites as having a super open vibe and being friendly, like pods of whales.
“My friend from college said people in Seattle are like pods of whales. ... They have a super open vibe, people are friendly, and they have a lot...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One lifelong resident feels the city has become more transient and lonelier, making friends and dating difficult.
“I’ve lived in Seattle my whole life, but lately it feels more transient and lonelier than ever. Making friends is tough, and dating (even in...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoRecent stories from local outlets. Tap a headline to read it.
About 13,557 business locations in the Seattle area, employing about 283,099 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
"I've been searching for any kind of work in Seattle for over a year now."
One resident mentioned enjoying a spot in Capitol Hill for remote work before their job required them to be onsite more often.
“I enjoyed Cloud Room in Capitol Hill when I had remote work options (I'm not in tech, job duties changed and need to be onsite more often) They...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoA newcomer figured they would find work easily after relocating for their partner's job, but it proved harder than expected.
“My boyfriend and I moved to Seattle last October for his job, and figured I’d just find a job when we got here. I’ve been using indeed as my main source...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoPick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
“I've been searching for any kind of work in Seattle for over a year now.”
A newcomer figured they would find work easily after relocating for their partner's job, but it proved harder than expected.
“My boyfriend and I moved to Seattle last October for his job, and figured I’d just find a job when we got here. I’ve been using indeed as my main source...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne commenter argued Seattle's nightlife is boring compared to major cities, though cool bars exist in neighborhoods like Ballard and Capitol Hill.
“Compared to the major cities, it's boring, but there are cool bars in a bunch of neighborhoods. You can go out in Ballard, Capitol Hill,...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident noted their local Wallingford elementary offers language immersion and mentioned lessons at Snoqualmie Pass as a social opportunity for kids.
“Wallingford local elementary has language immersion at k-5 and. Lots of lessons at Snoqualmie pass, automatic social opportunities for the kids...”
Read the full commentAbout 10 months ago“Compared to the major cities, it's boring”
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the Seattle area.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of the Seattle area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
What rent costs
Of about 612,361 rented homes in the Seattle area, 54% rent for under $2,000 a month and 88% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in the Seattle area rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $3,000 to $3,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $4,500 to $5,997 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,500 to $1,999, that's a yearly income of about $54,000 to $71,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to Washington: before and after
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Washington DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: Washington voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Public schools
18 public school districts in this county, with about 260,829 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Washington keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $478/week about $24,900 a year | $347/week about $18,000 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $390/week about $20,300 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $390/week about $20,300 a year | $310/week about $16,100 a year |
| School-age | $289/week about $15,000 a year |
For an infant at a center: $478/week here, $370 across WA, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 17% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
31 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Seattle. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.