12 Things to Know Before Moving to Washington State in 2024

If you’re considering moving to Washington, here’s everything you need to know.

Moving to Washington

1. It's a Tech Industry Hub

Washington is celebrated for its business and innovation. Its booming and rapidly-growing tech scene attracts juggernauts like Amazon, Microsoft, and Expedia Group.

Boeing, Nordstrom, Alaska Airlines, and of course, the iconic Starbucks all call Washington home. But don't forget the Aerospace, Farming, and Agriculture industries in the Evergreen State. They're among the highest GDP growth in the nation.

There are over 1,300 aerospace-related companies in Washington State alone. It’s the most significant supply chain provider in the US. It's also the place where commercial and military aircraft are produced.

Washington is an unsung hero in the farming industry, even though the state supplies 70% of the US apple production.

Washington farmers produce over 300 various commodities, from cherries to Christmas trees. All those crops lead to even more economic growth in food processing, agricultural production, and trade.

2. It's Known for Majestic Mountains

There are at least 64 named mountain ranges alone in Washington and hundreds of peaks to choose from. Major mountains include Glacier Peak, Mount Adams, and Mount Baker.

The most famous mountain is Mount Rainier in Tacoma. It’s also visible from Downtown Seattle on clear days. It's such a big deal to be able to see Mount Rainier on a clear day that locals are obsessed with whether or not "the mountain is out."

3. It's Called the "Evergreen State"

Despite its reputation for gloomy weather, the Pacific Northwest is positively stunning. The state earned the nickname the "Evergreen State" for a reason. Seattle realtor and historian C.T. Conover coined the nickname for its abundance of evergreen forests. Despite the spot-on name, Washington State's legislature hasn't officially adopted the moniker.

Washington is home to popular cities with unique vibes, including Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Spokane, and Vancouver. Here are some of the most desirable cities in Washington.

4. Washington Is Famous for Rain, But Offers Many Climates

The climates in Washington State are at odds from coast to coast. However, they provide a vibrant backdrop of environmental diversity.

Seattle and areas west of the Cascades include cool summers and moderate winters. Of course, Seattle is known for its rainy weather. While that reputation is justified, the amount of rain that falls isn't too much.

Meanwhile, Eastern Washington is an arid and relatively dry climate. You'll find hotter summers and colder winters that provide a backdrop for watersports and snow skiing.

5. Cost of Living Is a Bit High

Washington isn't exactly known for its low cost of living. The upside of living in the Evergreen State is no income tax. The savings can add more money to your apartment budget.

Affordability also comes down to where you live around Washington. Seattle is going to be one of the priciest cities to live in. As the 15th largest metro area by population in the country, you can expect urban density and high-rises.

According to PayScale, the cost of living in Washington varies by city. The cost of living in Seattle is 49% higher and housing costs are 94% higher than the national average. Yet the cost of living in Tacoma is only 8% higher and housing costs are actually 3% lower than the national average.

Here's an idea of how much things cost when moving to Washington, using Seattle as an example, as reported by PayScale:

• Energy bill: $206.39
• Loaf of bread: $4.22
• Doctor's Visit: $137.50
• $3.47 for a gallon of gas

Seattle rent prices are the priciest in the state. The median rent for a two-bedroom in Seattle is $1,742, well above the national average of $1,114.

Vancouver offers some flexibility if you want to live in a gorgeous setting with no sales tax but commute into the Portland area. The median rent is currently $1,420 for a two-bedroom in Vancouver. They rose 6.8% over a year. Nationwide, rents have held steady over the last year.

Tacoma's rents are a less expensive option than Seattle at $1,465 for a two-bedroom apartment. After a brief dip, rents are on the rise in Tacoma.

Over the past year, rents have declined due to the pandemic. However, the falls have stabilized and rent increases are likely on the horizon. Now would be a great time to score a deal on a rent special.

6. No Income Tax, But High Sales Tax

Washington State has no income tax, yet a notoriously high sales tax to offset having no income taxes. Washington State’s income tax is set at 6.5%, but each city has an additional sales tax that can skyrocket this number as high as 10.4%.

7. Washington State Has Several Beautiful Cities

If you want to live in a metro area, you have several options inside of Washington State. Let's take a look at them:

Seattle

Situated along the Puget Sound, Seattle is surrounded by Washington's iconic beauty, from water to mountains and evergreen forests. It also boasts a thriving tech industry, with Amazon calling the city home. Restaurants, bars, and culture are plentiful around Seattle.

Tacoma

Live on the Puget Sound banks in Tacoma for a more affordable cost of living than Seattle. The city is also the third-largest in the state and lies just south of Seattle.

Tacoma is home to world-renowned glasswork. You can see exhibits from Dale Chihuly at the Museum of Glass and other glass finds at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Bellevue

Located across Lake Washington from Seattle, Bellevue offers its own high-tech and retail center among its downtown high-rises. Bellevue's Downtown Park features a sprawling lawn, waterfall, and sculpture garden at the Bellevue Arts Museum.

Olympia

Olympia sits at the southern end of the Puget Sound. It’s home to the Washington State Capitol Campus and lake. A Governor's Mansion dates back to 1909, and public art lines the downtown waterfront.

Olympia is mostly known for its funky vibe and free-spirited lifestyle. It’s easy to find your place among their diverse mix of locals.

Redmond

Redmond is synonymous with Microsoft and Nintendo, with a solid job market. Despite its booming tech scene, Safewise has dubbed Redmond as the 5th Best Small Town in America.

Outdoor enthusiasts are also flocking to Redmond. Portland, Oregon, and its bikeable streets can move over. Redmond, Washington is the Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.

Spokane

Downtown Spokane boasts big companies like Apple and mom-and-pop shops in a walkable urban community. The city also offers gorgeous views of the city's Spokane Falls, where visitors can take a cable car from Riverfront Park.

When you live in Spokane, you're also near ski resorts, trails, microbreweries, and wineries.

Richland

Richland is part of the Tri-Cities in Washington, along with Kennewick and Pasco. Richland is situated right along the Columbia River. It offers miles of mountain biking trails. STEM jobs are typical, and brewpubs are booming.

Vancouver

Vancouver, Washington, lies across the river from Portland, Oregon. It boasts charming shops, new development, mountain biking, and outdoor recreation. Locals take advantage of the lack of income tax in "the Couve" and head over to Portland to shop with no sales tax.

Washington has dozens of innovative and gorgeous cities to settle into. However, Canada is also right around the corner. A day trip takes a little over two hours to start exploring Washington's friendly neighbor to the north.

Learn more about the best places to live in Washington!

8. Washington Is a Great Place for Outdoor Adventuring

Washington State is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts looking for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, biking, fishing, surfing, and just about anything else you want to do.

Winters may get snowy in the mountains and rainy in the cities. However, you can still go snow skiing and end your day in a micropub.

State Parks

Mount Rainier National Park is also among the premier state parks to explore. Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Deception Pass State Park are just a handful of the stunning parks around Washington. They feature kayaking, mountain biking, camping, and much more.

Like Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, there are also unique finds with petrified wood along the geologic preserve.

Islands

You can explore Washington's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, rivers, and inland lakes on the water or its islands. Four-hundred islands make up the state's archipelago of San Juan Islands.

The horseshoe-shaped Orcas Island boasts a mix of arts and culture, forest, and tranquil lakes. The hilly terrain makes it a popular choice for cyclists looking to explore the old apple barns and artists' studios.

"The Friendly Isle" is 15 miles long with expansive shorelines and a landscape of rolling farmlands and bays. Quaint cafes welcome locals looking for driftwood along the beaches before exploring the galleries and shops.

9. Washington Is Culturally Diverse

Washington's proximity to the water turned it into a significant Pacific Ocean trade with a diverse mix of locals from Scandinavians to Native Americans.

The diversity also lends itself to a vibrant arts and culture scene. It combines a melting pot of cultures and cosmopolitan flair in areas like Seattle.

Washington is a hotspot for artists and creatives at heart. The Bellevue Arts Museum hosts an annual BAM ARTSfair with different genres and mediums. There’s also a KIDSfair section.

The waterfront village of La Conner between Seattle and Vancouver features museums, galleries, and performing arts.

Washington is also rich with outdoor art installations and exhibits. See the sculptures at Olympic Sculpture Park with views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Washington's history can best be explored by its treasure trove of historic stops and landmarks. You can still see the American and English Camps on San Juan Island National Park, which were erected during the Pig War of 1859.

In Tacoma, you can see the living history museum of Fort Nisqually Granary. It stands as the first European trading post on the Puego Sound and sits in Point Defiance Park.

Despite its odd shape, the Milk Bottle Restaurant is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built as part of the Benewah Dairy Company in Tacoma.

You can also see the colorful yet somber resting place of Chief Seattle, Suquamish. It's just one of 38 sites in Nez Perce National Historic Park.

10. Washington Is the King of Coffee

The food and nightlife scene around Washington is world-renowned. It’s especially celebrated for its coffee.

Seattle introduced Starbucks to the world. However, there are also small-batch roasters and a coffee bean obsession from coast to coast.

Coffee is such a big deal that there are coffee tourism organizations and pros who lead cafe crawls through cities like Seattle.

Beyond coffee, Washington is also known for its fresh seafood and eastern vineyards. With such a vital farming and agricultural scene, you can also get fresh asparagus, apples, and mushrooms through the state.

As one of the most remote restaurants in the country, the Willows Inn on Lummi Island offers a 12-course experience. It was named one of the Best Restaurants in America. In Spokane, the iconic Wild Sage Bistro draws visitors to its tables with fresh, local ingredients and seafood.

You'll find fine dining and fusion dishes around the more extensive metro areas, like Seattle and Vancouver. Of course, Seattle is home to the world-famous Pike Place Market. Whether you are in the mood for smoked salmon or just stop by for produce, Pike Place Market is your one-stop-shop.

Washington's big cities aren't the only spots cornering the market's best eats. Anacortes, the gateway to the San Juan Islands, offers stops like Dad's Diner for local favorite brunch and BBQ.

11. The Sport's Scene Is Serious

Washington is a serious sports town with competitive teams and obsessed fans. The Seattle Seahawks and Sounders soccer teams play at Lumen Field (Formerly CenturyLink Field) in Downtown Seattle in the SoDo neighborhood. The Mariners (MLB) play at T-Mobile Park in Seattle with a retractable roof and city views.

Seattle is also home to the 2020 WNBA Champion Seattle Storm. The city is also welcoming the NHL's newest team, the Seattle Kraken, who'll take the ice in the 2021-22 season.

With plenty of big universities across the state of Washington, college sports are a big deal, with Gonzaga and UW leading the way.

12. Colleges Are Scattered Across the State

Washington ranks among the most educated states in the country and offers premier educational opportunities.

The University of Washington in Seattle

The University of Washington in Seattle is a top global university and houses a renowned medical center. Students also come for its prestigious reputation in engineering, medicine and nursing, and business.

Washington State University in Pullman, WA

Washington State University is a public research and land-grant university in Pullman, Washington. It attracts students in support services, engineering, psychology, and healthcare.

Washington State is also the headquarters of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

Gonzaga University in Spokane

Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic institution but open to all faiths. It's also a huge basketball school and attracts locals to game days.

The university also embraces the Ignatian model of educating the whole person, mind, body, and spirit.

Seattle University

As one of the top-ranked higher learning institutions in the country, Seattle University is known for its student-centered teaching and academics. It's also a private Jesuit university and the largest independent university in the Northwestern United States.

Whitworth University in Spokane

Spokane's Whitworth University was founded in 1890 as a private Christian institution. Students choose from over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs with a focus on liberal arts.

Western Washington University in Bellingham

Bellingham's Western Washington University is the northernmost university in the contiguous United States. It was founded in 1886.

The university is known for its Business Management, Marketing, Social Sciences, and Natural Resources and Conservation programs, among others.

Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma

Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma was founded in 1890 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants. Their focus is an education on inquiry, leadership, and care.

Finding Your Next Apartment in Washington

Ready to move to Washington State and soak up the beautiful nature, urban hubs, and thrive in a booming job market? Interested in learning what the cheapest places to live in Washington are? Check out our blog!

Get started with our quiz to find your dream Washington home!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the weather in Washington?

Despite its reputation for rain and fog, the weather in Washington greatly varies depending on where in the state you call home. Generally, western Washington experiences cool summers and moderate winters. Eastern Washington experiences weather that is generally dry year-round, with warm summers and cold winters.

What’s the time zone in Washington?

Washington’s time zone is Pacific Standard/Daylight Time (PST and/or PDT) depending on the time of year. It is also Greenwich Mean Time - 8 (GMT-8) and is three hours behind New York City.

What to do in Washington?

There are many things to do in Washington, though outdoor activities that are most popular with the state’s many evergreen forests. You’ll find that hiking, running, cycling, and water sports are the recreation activities of choice in the state. That said if you prefer indoor activities, the state of Washington offers a ton of nightlife scenes, restaurants, museums, and other options for recreation.

What are the benefits of moving to Washington?

First and foremost, Washington does not have a state income tax. Instead, you get a thriving job industry and a ton of recreation and entertainment opportunities. Beyond tax savings, living in Washington state allows residents to live right in nature — there’s something majestic about having a mini evergreen forest right in your backyard.

What are the pros and cons of living in Washington?

Like all states, Washington has its own set of pros and cons. Generally, Washington state residents enjoy the state's lack of an income tax, the amazing outdoor landscape, and the booming job industry. Conversely, Washington residents complain about the weather and the high cost of living in the cities.

What’s the best city to move to in Washington?

The top eight best cities to move to in Washington are Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Olympia, Redmond, Spokane, Richland, and Vancouver. That said, there are a ton of excellent cities to choose from in Washington state.

What’s it like living in Washington?

Living in Washington is a lively experience that changes depending on where you live. That said, you can find a thriving tech industry within the state, alongside a vibrant art scene, and a huge outdoor-loving community.

What are the taxes in Washington?

Washington state is one of seven states without a state-level income tax. That extra money in your pocket can make a big difference in stretching your budget much further.

What jobs are popular in Washington?

There are many thriving job industries in Washington state, including tech, aerospace, retail, and agriculture. More impressively, there are tons of major businesses headquartered in Washington, including Amazon, Nordstrom, Starbucks the state enjoys warm or mild weather year-round. The many Texas green spaces mean that residents can enjoy anything from a game of basketball to a lengthy game of golf. Additionally, Texas’ thriving nightlife scenes, tons of restaurants, and entertainment opportunities make for an adventure every time you leave your home.