Moving from Washington, D.C., to Seattle, WA

A change of pace in Washington State 

The United States capital, Washington, D.C., has around 690,000 people in the city and 6.4 million in the metro area. It receives over 20 million domestic and 1 million international visitors each year, so it’s also a busy and crowded city with a high population density.  

Although Seattle’s city population of just over 737,000 is a bit larger than D.C., the smaller metro area of 4 million and the lower population density will give you more breathing room in “The Emerald City” of Washington State. You’ll also find that Seattle’s way of life has a slower pace. Keep reading to learn more. 

Does Seattle live up to its rainy reputation?

If you’ve seen any weather reports about Seattle, you probably already know it’s a rainy city. But it’s actually a bit less rainy than D.C. by 5 inches per year! Seattle only averages 38 inches, while D.C. typically gets 43 inches of rain annually.  

In the winter, D.C. also gets almost 3 times as much snow, 14 inches, compared to Seattle’s average of 5. The weather is milder in Seattle, with temperatures generally between 37 and 76 degrees.   

Finding work and making a life in Seattle

Seattle isn’t famous for being an inexpensive place to live — in fact, it’s quite the contrary. However, when compared to life in D.C., you’ll find Seattle more affordable from groceries to housing prices. Seattle's job market is strong, with salaries higher than national averages. Top job markets include biotech, health care, manufacturing, maritime industries and technology. 

The city has 165 public and 317 private schools for grades K-12 and 16 colleges and universities for adult learners.  

Getting around in the city 

While not as robust as the public transportation system in D.C., Seattle’s public transit has multiple options including buses, ferries, trains and ride sharing. The city also offers bike and scooter sharing, which is popular with residents and visitors for getting around for work or entertainment.  

Here are some fun places to visit: 

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass 
  • Kerry Park 
  • Museum of History & Industry 
  • Museum of Pop Culture 
  • Pike Place Market 
  • Seattle Aquarium 
  • Seattle Great Wheel 
  • Space Needle 
  • The Museum of Flight 
  • Woodland Park Zoo 

Move to Seattle with U-Pack

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers and more than 25 years of experience in long-distance moves. Our locations near D.C. and Seattle are ready to serve you. We’re a DIY-moving service where you handle packing, loading and unloading, and we take care of driving your belongings to your new home. Get a free online quote today, or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant. 

You’ll probably drive more out West

While public transportation is plentiful and heavily used in Washington, D.C., getting around by car is easier (and more of a necessity) in Seattle. Yes, you can commute by bus, rail and ferry, but having your own vehicle gives you easy access to places like Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC, both less than 3 hours from Seattle. Mountains, forests, beaches and deserts are also within a short drive.

Prepare for lots of wet weather

Say goodbye to experiencing the four seasons of Washington, D.C. You might think of Seattle as “the rainy city,” and you’d be accurate. It rains 150 days out of the year on average, or about 40 percent of the time, so proper gear is essential.

Despite the wet climate, expect consistent, comfortable temperatures year-round. The summer months average highs of 75 degrees with little to no humidity, making air conditioning optional in many cases. Winter lows dip into the 30s, with occasional light snow.

Make your long haul from Washington, D.C. to Seattle easier with U-Pack

Sure, you could rent a large moving truck and spend 40-plus hours driving it 2,800 miles from Washington, D.C. to Seattle. You also could pay a premium price for a full-service moving company to handle everything for you. Or you could discover a more balanced and efficient long-distance moving option in U-Pack, where you pack and load your belongings and we transport them to your new home.

With over 240 service centers across the U.S., it doesn’t matter where you’re moving to or from, U-Pack can help. Choose from multiple equipment options and get door-to-door delivery at a cost comparable to truck rental! Get a free moving quote online today.