What’s it really like to live in Seattle?

Life in every city or town is unique. Before making a move, you need background information about what to expect in your new city. Seattle is a US city with a rapidly growing population. In addition, every year, the city receives numerous visitors. Among the 50 major US states, the Census places Seattle fourth in terms of population growth.

This verdant and leafy city is environmentally friendly and ranks 10th among the best cities to live in by US News & World Report. Here are some benefits that come with living in the city.

Pros

Living in Seattle is fun. From the weather to the people to the food to the beer, everything is fun. Below are the reasons why life in Seattle is interesting.

• Abundant Green Spaces. As already mentioned, the city is environmentally friendly and home to many trees. The area receives rain on most days of the year. People call it a “rainy” city, but this shouldn’t scare you. Rain here generally takes the form of drizzle, and you can comfortably walk around without an umbrella.
• This rain supports green vegetation with trees and other plants thriving in every part of the city. Living in Seattle, you’ll enjoy cool breezes under a canopy of beautiful green trees.
• Glorious Summers. Every season is good in Seattle, but summers are perfect. During summers, the weather is relatively warm and low humidity blended with incredible views. If you love hiking, you’ll benefit from the many trails to enjoy during the summer. There are other sporting activities that you can do during the summer. If you don’t love hiking, lots of water-based activities are available. For festival lovers, numerous festivals, music parties, and arts about throughout the region.
• Home to Amazon. Headquartered in Seattle, Amazon is more than a store (some view it as a lifestyle!), providing denizens of Seattle almost everything they need for daily life. While walking around the streets, you will undoubtedly find Amazon workers in uniform. Branches of Amazon’s cashier-less stores appear all around the city for easy shopping. Prices are equally affordable, with massive discounts for Seattle residents. There are also gardens throughout the city and on the outskirts where you can purchase fresh vegetables and other farm products.
• Low Cost of Living. Life in cities is usually expensive. Accessing basic needs is quite costly in many large cities, but this is not the case for Seattle. Amazon and other big retail stores make life in Seattle thrilling. The basic needs are easily accessible. Interestingly, salaries in Seattle are higher than the nation’s average. The education system is equally good, with high-tech schools available.
• Wonderful Neighbors. Cities are characterized by both good and bad people. Bad people for this case means the jobless who venture into robbery and other crime. This is not something new in major or already developed cities. The crime rate in Seattle is comparatively low. The town bustles with activity, and most jobs pay well. (On average, the salaries are higher than in other cities.) Since the city is still growing, there are lots of career and business opportunities to seize.

Cons

Seattle is a fantastic city, but like any other place, it has shortcomings. Most of these cons are not enough to discourage you from living in the city. Every town or city has advantages and disadvantages. Below are the shortcomings of Seattle.

• Rain. Seattle is not called “rainy” for nothing. It receives precipitation year-round. Even still, you will see individuals moving around with umbrellas. Luckily, the rain does not pour down heavily but rather drizzles. Individuals who are caught with umbrellas are usually visitors to the city. For someone who lives in Seattle, the drizzles are not enough to carry an umbrella. Instead, people dress for rain with appropriate outerwear. If you simply don’t love rain at all, you may find the city harder to adapt to. 
• Seattleites Love Dogs. The environment in Seattle is favorable for dogs. While moving in the streets, you will encounter individuals with their pets (usually dogs). Sometimes there are dog competitions held in the city. This does not mean, however, that dogs are aimlessly wandering around. Nevertheless, if you don’t love dogs, then you may find it uncomfortable. 

Seaford, Delaware

Seaford, Delaware, is located along the Nanticoke River in Sussex County, Delaware. It is the largest city entirely within Sussex County and was once voted the 28th Best Small Town in America, and it’s named after Seaford, East Sussex, in England.

Seaford sits on land that was first settled as part of Maryland. Other cities similarly situated include Bridgeville, Greenwood, Middleford, which were all part of Dorchester County in the Province of Maryland. Blades, Laurel, and Concord areas, on the other hand, were part of Somerset County. It is reported that an error in a map coordinate resulted in the east-west line of Delaware being from current Delmar to Fenwick. The original agreement had the east-west line at the Cape Henlopen, not at the false cape. If the line had survived, Seaford would now be in Maryland. After many years in London’s courts, the boundary lines are as the surveyors Mason and Dixon defined in 1763.

Sebastopol, California

Sebastopol, California, is a city in Sonoma County in California. It sits about a 20-minute drive away from the Pacific Ocean, between Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay. Sebastopol is known for its liberal-leaning politics and small-town charm. It was once primarily a plum- and apple-growing region; wine grapes, however, now predominate, and nearly all lands once used for orchards are now vineyards. Famous horticulturist Luther Burbank had gardens in this region. The city hosts an annual Apple Blossom Festival and Gravenstein Apple Fair.

The area’s first known inhabitants were the native Coast Miwok and Pomo peoples. Sebastopol formed in the 1850s with a U.S. Post Office and as a small trade center for the farmers of the surrounding agricultural region. As California’s population swelled after the westward migration and the California Gold Rush of 1848–1855, more and more settlers drifted into the fertile California valleys north of San Francisco to try their farming hand. There is some debate about how the name “Sebastopol” came into use in Sonoma County. Four other California towns were also named Sebastopol: One each in Napa County (renamed Yountville), Tulare County, Sacramento County, Nevada County.

What is it like to live in Newport, Rhode Island?

A seaside city famous for its historic mansions, Newport, Rhode Island is an upscale community about 30 miles southeast of Rhode Island’s capital, Providence, and well known as a New England summer resort and as the United States sailing capital, bounded by Atlantic Ocean coastlines.

If you wish to live in a community with the ocean and harbor on 3 sides, a vibrant, large, and exciting downtown — and has one of the largest concentrations of beautiful and historic homes in the country — Newport, Rhode Island (population 26,000) is for you.

The City of Newport sits at the southern end of Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the south, Narragansett Bay on the west, and by Middletown, Rhode Island, on the northeast. Newport is 11.38 square miles in size, with 7.66 square miles of land and 3.17 square miles of inland water. Its location is accessible to the west via I-95 by way of the Jamestown and Pell Bridges, and to the north by Routes 24 and I-195 by way of the Mount Hope Bridge and the Sakonnet River Bridge.

In colonial days, Newport was the most vital port in Rhode Island. Today, the City is home to a magnificent stock of colonial homes — in fact, walking down the streets of Newport is likely the closest one can come to seeing what an American colonial city looked and felt like. During the 19th century, it became recognized among the wealthiest Americans as the place to live in the summer.

Soon the Vanderbilts and most of the nation’s wealthiest families were in a mad rush to see who could build the most extraordinary “cottage” (mansion). Several hundred years and many booms and busts later, the town is an exceptional destination for tourists and active adults. Thanks to Doris Duke and the Newport Restoration Foundation, which she created, you can tour many of these mansions.

Beyond the mansions, everywhere in town are picturesque old homes that have either been restored or are waiting for an owner with vision and deep pockets. Salve Regina University’s campus in Newport incorporates many former mansions of American’s wealthiest families. The town is walkable and features many parks and squares.

Newport hosts several popular festivals each year, including the Newport Folk Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival, and the Newport Film Festival. Among the many popular tourist destinations, the City’s museums and the largest number of colonial homes in the nation make Newport a fine tourist and educational destination. The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is the nation’s oldest lending library. Newport also features a tremendous selection of excellent restaurants offering many different cuisines.
In terms of downsides, there are a few: Traffic during high tourist season can be intense. (You have to want to live in a tourist town!) Additionally, Newport is not inexpensive.

NEWARK, DE

Newark is a city in New Castle County, Delaware. It sits about 12 miles west of Wilmington. Founded by Scots-Irish and Welsh settlers in 1694, Newark was officially established through a charter from England’s George II in 1758. During the American Revolutionary War, British and American forces clashed outside Newark at the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge. Tradition holds that the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge was the first instance of the Stars and Stripes being flown in battle.

Today, Newark is known for being the home of the University of Delaware. Newark also sports a happening downtown area, full of shops and restaurants, and city events that occur throughout the year.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY

New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, in the southeastern portion of the state. Refugee Huguenots (French Protestants) founded the European settlement in 1688. The Huguenots were fleeing religious persecution in France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Many of the French settlers were craftsmen from the city of La Rochelle in France, which influenced the city’s name.

Today, New Rochelle is a rapidly growing city. Two decades ago, a multi-million dollar entertainment complex was established in New Rochelle and dubbed “New Roc City.” This entertainment center features a 19-screen movie theater, IMAX theater, indoor ice-hockey arena, mini-golf, go-karts, arcade, hotel, restaurants, loft apartments, and a mega supermarket.

When friends or family are moving, I can help. Whether it’s New Orleans to New Haven or New Smyrna Beach — or anywhere in between — give me a buzz!

If there is one place in the United States that most people dream about living, that has to be New Orleans. Without question, the Crescent City has something special that draws people in and keeps them hooked for a lifetime. Whether it’s the vibrant atmosphere or the free spirit of this enchanting city that charms them forever, one thing is certain – it’s impossible not to feel anything while visiting New Orleans, and this is why many people choose to live here. Far from perfect, the city is unquestionably unique, and people that make it their home feel its quirkiness both in everyday life and special events. New Orleans is great music and delicious cuisine, friendly people, splendid architecture, great parties, and sporting passions. Many locals feel that this is a place unlike any other in the United States, and they are absolutely right!

Nowhere else is there such a flamboyant atmosphere and multicultural experience like the one of New Orleans. This place’s cultural heritage is unique and comes from the hybrid legacy of African-American, French, Spanish, and other influences. Living in New Orleans also means that one gets to experience all these nuances and they are best reflected in music and gastronomy. The city of festivals boasts one of the most colorful in the world, the weeks-long Mardi Gras carnival, where everyone puts on a costume and get to the streets for endless hours of partying and celebrations. The incredible street art happenings, superb jazz venues, inspiring museums, and art galleries, everything in the city breaths culture! On top of all this, everyone in New Orleans and all its visitors swear that this is the United States’ food capital, with some of the best restaurants and most delicious dishes they ever tried.

Living in New Orleans also means the strong community sense and the most welcoming people one could wish for. Nowhere else is there such a friendly and outspoken atmosphere than here, with people of all races and backgrounds living together in harmony. Of course, New Orleans is not perfect, and everyone knows that having its own demons and dangers, yet people that arrive irremediably fall in love, and many choose to make it their home. Summers are sweltering, and winters can get very humid, while the whole city is surrounded by waters, but this is also part of its unique charm. On a more formal point of view, New Orleans also offers excellent housing and business opportunities, being in full rebirth after the tragedy brought by Hurricane Katrina. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, with excellent educational and employment opportunities. Overall, living in New Orleans is a complex and fantastic experience, more like a feeling of being part of something unique and thrilling.

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

Located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut, New Haven is part of the New York metropolitan area. With a population of 129,779 as determined by the 2010 United States Census, it is the second-largest city in Connecticut after Bridgeport. New Haven was the first planned city in America. A year after its founding by English Puritans in 1638, eight streets were laid out in a four-by-four grid, creating what is commonly known as the “Nine Square Plan.”

The central common block is the New Haven Green, a 16-acre square at the center of Downtown New Haven. The Green is now a National Historic Landmark, and the “Nine Square Plan” is recognized by the American Planning Association as a National Planning Landmark. New Haven is also the home of Yale University, New Haven’s biggest taxpayer and employer, which serves as an integral part of its economy.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA

New Smyrna Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, located on the state’s central east coast, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The downtown section of the city is located on the Indian River’s west side and the Indian River Lagoon system. The Coronado Beach Bridge crosses the Intracoastal Waterway just south of Ponce de Leon Inlet, connecting the mainland with the beach on the coastal barrier island. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreation opportunities, including fishing, sailing, motorboating, golfing, and hiking.

Visitors participate in water sports of all kinds, including swimming, scuba diving, kitesurfing, and surfing. In July 2009, New Smyrna Beach was ranked number nine on the “best surf towns” list in Surfer. It was recognized as “one of the world’s top 20 surf towns” by National Geographic in 2012. It has also been dubbed “The Shark Bite Capital of the World.”

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Palm Springs is a desert city in Southern California that attracts individuals from all around the globe. Many residents first come to Palm Springs on vacation and then fall in love with the casual lifestyle and warm winters. Some live here part of the year, but others enjoy it for a year around living, even throughout the summers. For those wondering what it is like to really live in Palm Springs, here are a few things you might want to consider.

1. Comparatively speaking, Palm Springs is less expensive than many other popular cities. For what you are getting — a big city in a warm-weather climate, with a high quality of life — Palm Springs offers more living for less. Palm Springs is still in California, of course, where average living costs are higher than they might be in other similar-sized cities in, say, the Midwest, but the cost of living in Palm Springs is definitely less than areas like New York or Boston — and about 8 percent less than the California average. Downside: You will still require a car to live in Palm Springs. Though there is a fantastic bus-transport system, Palm Springs doesn’t have light rail or metro trains, and the Coachella Valley is sprawling. Downside: Air conditioning bills in the summer may get expensive.
2. Palm Springs is diverse. There’s a vibrant gay community and individuals from all types of religious and ethnic backgrounds. Liberals and conservatives both live here happily with one another. Downside: Economically, Palm Springs isn’t as varied as it could be. The most important industry is also, as you may expect, tourism. 
3. Palm Springs is active and casual. The weather makes Palm Springs a fantastic place to call home. Swimming, physical fitness studios, outdoor runs, and, of course, tennis and golf are passionately participated in, although perhaps the most famous action would be simply walking. Most areas here are very walkable, and it is common to see people going out for their evening stroll in the sun begins to set behind the mountains, and even more common to see folks out for a morning walk before it gets too hot. Even the hiking is fantastic. What makes this enjoyable is the low humidity. 100 degrees might sound too hot to you personally, but it seems quite comfortable when it is quite dry.

Palm Springs has a dynamic extreme health community, too. Physicians, actors, and enthusiastic citizens who are interested in longevity make healthy living a daily preoccupation. Due to the weather, there is not a lot of formality in the dress. Even typically traditional industries like banking tend to dress a little more casually in their offices than they may in other large towns. Desert cities have a more relaxed vibe. Downside: The month of August can be intensely hot, so people usually try to stay indoors as much as they can in August. Downside: Not everybody thinks the desert is beautiful. It can take a particular sort of person to appreciate the serene, easy landscapes of a desert.

PORTLAND, MAINE

Portland is the most populous city in Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, the 105th-largest metro area in the United States. Portland’s economy relies mostly on the service sector and tourism. The Old Port district is known for its 19th-century architecture and nightlife. The marine industry still plays a vital role in the city’s economy, with an active waterfront that supports fishing and commercial shipping. The city’s seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, a reference to recovery from four devastating fires. Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland, Dorset. The name Portland itself comes from the Old English word “Portlanda,” which means “land surrounding a harbor”

PORTLAND, OREGON

Portland is the largest and most populous city in Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County. It is a major port in the Pacific Northwest’s Willamette Valley region, at the Willamette and Columbia rivers’ confluence in Northwestern Oregon. Portland is the sixth-most populous on the West Coast and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest after Seattle. Approximately 2.4 million people live in the Portland metropolitan statistical area (MSA), making it the 25th most populous in the United States.

Named after Portland, Maine, the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1830s near the end of the Oregon Trail. Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods, and the timber industry was a significant force in the city’s early economy. At the turn of the 20th century, the city had a reputation as one of the most dangerous port cities in the world, a hub for organized crime and racketeering. After the city’s economy experienced an industrial boom during World War II, its hard-edged reputation began to dissipate. Starting in the 1960s, Portland became noted for its growing progressive political values, earning it a reputation as a counterculture’s bastion.

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA

Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida. It is the most populous municipality in the county, with a population of 164,603 at the 2010 census due to its rapid growth during the 2000s. It is located 125 miles southeast of Orlando. The Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Area includes St. Lucie and Martin’s counties and, as of 2016, had an estimated population of 465,208. Port St. Lucie was a largely uninhabited tract of land south of White City in the 1950s, composed of a fishing camp, a few farms, and businesses near U.S. Highway 1. In 1958, with a budget of $5, the General Development Corporation (GDC) purchased the River Park development and 40,000 acres along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. In 1959, the GDC opened its first bridge over the St. Lucie River, allowing for direct automobile access to Port St. Lucie.