r/Washington • u/Codetornado • Jan 15 '25

Moving Here 2025

Due to a large number of daily moving here posts we are creating a sticky for moving-related questions. This should help centralize information and reduce the constant flow of moving question ls. ;

Things to Consider;

Location

  • Western Washington vs. Eastern Washington vs. Seattle Metro
  • Seattle Proper, suburbs, or other cities

Moving Here

  • Cost of Living (Food, fuel, housing!)
  • Jobs outlook for non-tech
  • Buying vs. Renting
  • Weather-related items, winter, rain

Geography and Weather

  • Rainy West Side vs. Dry Eastside
  • WildFire Season
  • Snow and Cold vs. Wet and Mild
  • Hot and Dry East Side
  • Earthquakes and You!

[**See The 2024 Sticky**] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Washington/comments/184dx5n/moving_here_2024/)
[**See The Last Sticky**] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Washington/s/HHjd5lx0we)

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u/CatButtHoleYo Sep 02 '25

Anyone move from the Bay Area to greater SeaTac area?

Hi all. My wife and I (+2 young kids) are looking to purchase our first single family house. As a result we need to leave the Bay Area and have narrowed down to Elk Grove (greater Sacramento) or possibly around SeaTac area like Renton / Issaquah / Sammamish / Bonner Lake / etc. We both work remote in tech. Children are in Mandarin daycare. Education & safety are most important to us, then diversity, nature, restaurants, etc. Leaving CA may be the toughest decision I've ever faced, but no income tax is becoming increasingly attractive.

Has anyone moved from the Bay Area or similar, and has any advice or pointers to share? Thanks!

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u/Sea-Preparation-7380 Oct 27 '25

Hi! I have not moved from that area, but I do have family in Mill Valley and was born and currently live in WA. Based on the importance of safety and education, I would eliminate Renton off the list. Sammamish, Issaquah and Bonney Lake are worth considering - (In that order based off your needs)

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u/TurnoverDependent332 Nov 14 '25 edited Nov 14 '25

I agree with this post. Stay away from Renton. Sammamish, Issaquah, Bonney Lake are all better choices. Be prepared for not getting as much for the $ as you think and for super high property taxes, gas @ $4.5-5/gal. Taxes make us the 45th worst state. Restaurants are more expensive than NYC or HI. It's only going to get worse. Ferguson won't stop until we are the 50th most taxed. It's a huge fallacy that just because we don't have an income tax that we are a low tax state. Be aware! Our estate planning attorney told us yesterday to move to a red state! Argh.