Washigton state, also referred to as the Evergreen State is well-known for being eco-friendly, and having some of the most beautiful natural outdoor scenery in the United States. It is home to several breathtaking mountains and more than 8000 lakes.
In addition, it also houses many tech and innovative companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Digital Properties, Classmates, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and Nordstrom etc. So if you'd like to get the best of both worlds, moving to Washington isn't a bad idea.
Washington state is great for camping, hiking, off-road tours, rock climbing, and several other exciting outdoor adventures. If you're wondering if moving to Washington state is right for you or not, we've compiled all the information you need to know about the state before making up your mind.
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Top 10 Reasons To Move To Washington
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Pros and cons of moving to Washington
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The best places to live in Washington
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The cost of living in Washington
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Job market in Washington
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How much you'll likely pay in taxes in Washington
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Washington Most Know For
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Schools in Washington
Is moving to Washington state right for you or not? Let's find out!
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Top 10 Reasons to move to Washington
Here are the top 10 reasons why moving to Washington is a great idea:
- Washington state has a great job market
- The state is surrounded by nature
- Washington has some of the best hiking trails in the U.S.
- You'll have access to thousands of lakes and rivers
- You'll enjoy a wide variety of great tasty foods
- The state is eco-friendly
- Washington is a great place for outdoor enthusiast
- Washington state has no income tax
- Stunning state parks
- Various academic opportunities
Pros & Cons of Living in Washington
Before making up your mind about moving to Washington, we are sure that you'd like to consider the pros and cons of living in the state. Here's a simple list to help you weigh your options better.
| Pros of living in Washington State | Cons of living in Washington State |
|---|---|
| Booming job market | The cost of living is higher than many other states |
| Environmentally friendly | Traffic is terrible in Washington |
| No state income tax | Housing is expensive in Washington |
| Top-rated universities and colleges | Washington's weather isn't so great |
| A vibrant and diversified growing economy | Crime rates are high in Washington |
| An ultra high quality of living | Meeting new people and making friends is hard |
| Breathtaking outdoor scenery and activities | State and local sales tax rates are high |
| Washington is home to over 8000 lakes | Cities are getting crowded as population grows |
| The state is a bikers' paradise | Washington is home to many active volcanoes |
| The state has the highest minimum wage in the country | The state has one of the highest property crimes rates in the U.S. |
| Most Washingtonians are living a healthy lifestyle | There's a high chance of experiencing storms and hurricanes |
What are the best places to live in Washington state?
Washington is home to many beautiful cities, towns, and neighborhoods. To help you choose the best place to live in the state, we've compiled data from Home Snacks to let you make a fair comparison. Here are the 10 best places to live if you're moving to Washington:
| Place | Population | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Island | 25,492 | $1,135,200 | 3.6% |
| Sammamish | 64,049 | $749,000 | 3.1% (8th best) |
| Brier | 6,819 | $454,700 | 3.1% |
| Snoqualmie | 13,317 | $582,000 | 3.3% |
| Redmond | 63,197 | $631,700 | 3.9% |
| Duvall | 7,811 | $452,200 | 4.7% |
| Mill Creek | 20,164 | $486,600 | 3.2% |
| Kirkland | 88,079 | $607,800 | 3.6% |
| Lake Forest Park | 13,378 | $559,000 | 4.3% |
| Bellevue | 142,242 | $737,000 | 4.0% |
What's the Cost of Living in Washington?
Before moving to Washington, the cost of living in the state is one of the key things to consider. The cost of living in Washington state is 118.7%. This means the cost of living in the state is 18.7% higher than the U.S. average.
Washington's cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. Rankings lower than 100 means the state is less expensive than the national average. Ranking above 100 means the state is more expensive to live in.
How is the rental market like in Washington state?
Renting a home in Washington state is fairly easy. The state is home to many beautiful cities and towns including Seattle, Leavenworth, Spokane, Vancouver, Bellevue and a lot more. Up to 33.8% of Washingtonians are renters. About 1.4% of houses and apartments in the state are available to rent.
Here's a quick summary of the average costs of renting a home in Washington state:
- Washington Studio Apartment is $1,011. The U.S. average is $821
- Washington 1 Bedroom is $1,127. The U.S. average is $930
- Washington 2 Bedroom is $1,401. The U.S. average is $1,148
- Washington 3 Bedroom is $2,006. The U.S. average is $1,537
- Washington 4 Bedroom is $ $2,374. The U.S. average is $1791
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START MY QUOTEHow expensive are homes in Washington state?
You may decide to buy a home if you're moving to Washington state. So, we compiled the most important data (from Zillow) about the state's housing market to help you make an informed decision.
- The median home value in Washington state is $428,896
- The median list price per square foot in Washington state is $237
- The median price of homes currently listed in Washington is $415,000
- The median price of homes that sold in Washington state is $408,400
- The median rent price in Washington state is $1,995
- Per 10,000, 0.8 homes are foreclosed in Washington, lower than the US average of 1.2
- 4.3% of homeowners in Washington are underwater on their mortgage
How is the job market in Washington state?
If you move to Washington, getting a job will be fairly easy. The state is home to some of the largest companies in the U.S. Here's a top 10 list of the largest companies in Washington according to Zippia:
- Amazon
- Starbucks
- Costco Wholesale
- Microsoft
- Barrett Business Services
- Nordstrom
- T-Mobile
- The Hotel Group
- University of Washington
- Fortive
Here's a simple analysis of Washington's job market:
- The unemployment rate of Washington state is 4.5%. US average is 3.9
- Washington has witnessed a job market boost of 1.8 in the last year
- Washington's future job growth is projected to hit 39.1% in the next 10 years.
- The US future job projection is expected to 33.5% in the next 10 years.
What are the largest industries in Washington State?
What industry are you most likely to get a job in if you relocate to Washington? There are several large industries in Washington state including Aerospace, information technology and trade etc. Here's a list of the leading industries in the state:
- Food And Agriculture
- Aerospace And Construction
- Information And Communication Technology
- Forestry
- Trade
- Forest Products
- Life Science/Global Health
- Military and Defense
- Maritime
- Clean Technology
- Agriculture and food manufacturing
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START MY QUOTEHow much are you likely to earn when you get a job in Washington?
Using data from ZipRecruiter, Credit Bureau and Data.io, here's how much money you're likely to earn when you move to Washington:
- The median household income in Washington is $70,116
- Average salaries in Washington range within $22,118 to $146,733
- The Per capita income of Washingtonians is $36,888
- 10.3% of Washington residents are living in poverty
- Average jobs category range between $53,406 to $79,839
Are Washingtonians paying more or less in taxes?
Moving to Washington probably means you'd be paying a different amount of money in taxes compared to what you were paying previously. So, will you be more or less in tax if you move to Washington?
Here's a simple analysis of Washington taxes using data from SmartAsset:
- Washington has no personal income tax
- Washington's bases tax rate is 6.5% and it can extend to 7% - 10.5%
- The average effective property tax rate in Washington is 1.03%, U.S. average is 1.08
- Washington residents pay an average property tax rate of $2,958
- Washington's real estate sales tax (REET) is 1.28% of the sold property price
- Washington's gas tax is 49.4 cents per gallon of normal diesel and gasoline
What is Washington state most known for?
The state of Washington is known for many things. While it's hard to mention everything, we've selected some of the key ones from various spheres of the state. Here they are:
- Washington is home to over 40,000 miles of rivers, streams, and more than 8,000 lakes.
- Mount Rainier National Park, the fifth oldest national park in the U.S. It hosts over 1.5 million tourists per year.
- Washington is well-known for its apples. The state is the leading producer of apples in the country.
- Washington has more glaciers than the other 47 neighboring states put together.
- The world's largest building is in Washington, known as Everest. The building is Boeing's final assembly plant.
- The world's longest floating bridge is in Washington. It's called the Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge located at Evergreen Point. The bridge connects Seattle and Medina across Lake Washington.
- Starbucks, the biggest coffee chain in the world was founded in Seattle, Washington.
- Washington is the U.S. leading producer of pears, red raspberries, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries.
- Up to eighty percent of the glacial ice in the U.S is found in Washington State.
- The Washington State Ferry System is the largest Ferry System in the US and the state's number one tourist attraction.
- Washington has some of the best hiking trails in the entire U.S.
What are the Best Schools and Universities in Washington State?
There are tons of top-rated elementary, middle and high schools in Washington state. Washington is also home to some of the best universities and colleges in the U.S. Here's a list of the top-rated schools in the state:
Best Elementary Schools in Washington
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Bennett Elementary School
Bellevue School District,Public, PK-5 | 435 students -
Somerset Elementary School, Bellevue School District, Public, K-5 | 721 students
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Coe Elementary School, Seattle Public Schools, Public, K-5 | 560 students
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Timber Ridge Elementary School
Snoqualmie Valley School District,Public, K-5 | 656 students -
Capt Johnston Blakely Elementary School
Bainbridge Island School District, Public, K-4 | 367 students
Best Public Middle Schools
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Davenport Senior High School
Davenport School District, Public, 6-12 | 330 students -
Pine Lake Middle School
Issaquah School District, Public, 6-8 | 939 students -
Inglewood Junior High School
Lake Washington School District, Public, 6-8 | 1207 students -
International Community School
Lake Washington School District, Public, 6-12 | 438 students -
Jefferson Middle School
Olympia School District, Public, 5-8 | 432 students
Best Public High School
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Anacortes High School
Anacortes School District, Public, 9-12 | 795 students -
Newport Senior High School
Bellevue School District, Public, 9-12 | 1834 students -
Skyline High School
Issaquah School District, Public, 9-12 | 2194 students -
Eastlake High School
Lake Washington School District, Public, 9-12 | 1871 students -
Kamiak High School
Mukilteo School District, Public, 9-12 | 2082 students
Universities and Colleges
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Georgetown University
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University of Maryland
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George Washington University
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American University
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George Mason University
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Howard University
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Catholic University of America
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