We think Seattle is a great place to live. From the great waterfront location to the diversity of neighborhoods and the access to the great outdoors, Seattle is fantastic. Here is a look at Seattle’s safety, employment, cost of living, and education:
Safety in Seattle
According to data from the Seattle Police Department, major crimes in Seattle have been on an overall downward trend over the last 25 years. Seattle has approximately 592 violent crimes per 100,000 people. This is a crime rate lower than many similar sized cities in the United States. To keep crime down, the Seattle Police Department maintains a strong, crime prevention program including training for the Block Watch program.
Employment in Seattle
There are a wide variety of employment options and eight key industries are driving the job growth in the region. These include manufacturing, maritime, life sciences, IT/communications, health care, clean technology, film/music, and tourism. The five largest employers in the Seattle area include Microsoft, University of Washington, Amazo, and Weyerhaeuser.
The unemployment rate is below the national average. In February 2013, Seattle had an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, whereas the national average for metropolitan areas was 8.1 percent.
Cost of Living in Seattle
There is no dancing around it; Seattle has a high cost of living. Seattle’s cost of living is 142.7 compared to a national average of 100. The high cost of living is driven by high housing and health care costs.
Seattle’s Education and Schools
Seattle has a wealth of educational resources for all age groups. Due to the high concentration of tech and engineering job, over half of the residents over the age of 25 hold a bachelor’s degree. For public K-12 schools, there are a variety of formats available, including charter and magnet schools. In addition to public schools, there are also several private and parochial schools for the K-12 level.
Higher education opportunities abound in the Seattle area and include undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The Seattle Community College District has four campuses in the city. University of Washington has a large campus in Seattle and is one of the largest employers in the city. Private colleges and universities in Seattle include Antioch, Argosy, The Art Institute of Seattle, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle Pacific, Seattle Bible, and Seattle University.
Plenty of Parks
Seattle’s large network of public parks means there is always a quiet place to retreat from the urban hustle and bustle. The City of Seattle maintains over 400 park and open space areas, which cover over 6,200 acres of park land.
A particularly notable park in Seattle is the Gas Works Park. The park is located on nearly 20 acres of waterfront at the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company. Portions of the old plant still remain and create an interesting centerpiece to the park. The park has picnic sites, play areas, restroom, paths, ADA-accessible areas, and also great waterfront views.
Another popular park is Volunteer Park. Located right in the heart of the city it is home to an Asian Art Museum and a conservatory. There are lighted tennis courts, paths, a water feature, play areas, grassy area, and restrooms.
Images Source: Wikipedia
