Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Washington

You think about moving to Washington (state) but want to get more information about this region before making your final decision in this regard?

Great! Stick with me since you will learn a lot about climatic conditions, job market, income level, unemployment, overall quality of life and much more.

Living in Washington – Overview

Advantages of Living in Washington

1. Above-average income level in Washington state
2. Highly-qualified people may be able to make really good money
3. Many opportunities to build a strong business network in the rural parts of Washington
4. Washington offers lots of beautiful nature
5. You can spend your leisure outdoors
6. Pretty decent air quality in most parts of Washington
7. You can get lots of natural exercise in Washington
8. Washington is located at the coast
9. Washington is a great state to balance body and mind
10. Washington is a pretty tolerant state
11. You can meet many helpful people in Washington
12. Easy to connect with people in Washington
13. Decent bars and clubs in the major cities of Washington
14. Decent schools and colleges in the Washington region
15. Washington is a rather popular state
16. Moving to Washington may help you relax
17. You can experience many different cultures in Washington
18. You can get friends with interesting people from all over the world
19. Moving to Washington may help you expand your horizon
20. The big cities of Washington offer everything you need close to your home
21. Many recreational areas in the Washington region
22. Good balance of professional opportunities and places to relax
23. Washington is not the most crowded state
24. Traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Washington
25. Rather easy to find a parking lot outside of the big cities of Washington
26. Washington may be a great state to become independent
27. You can forage for food in many regions of Washington
28. You can experience real seasons in the state of Washington
29. Many free things you can do in the Washington region
30. You don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods
31. Washington may be an interesting place for students
32. Washington can be a great place to retire
33. Decent internet connection in most parts of Washington
34. You have enough space for yourself in public
35. You may be able to meet many smart guys and gals in Washington
36. Decent doctors and hospitals in the urban parts of Washington
37. You will be welcome no matter where you come from
38. Money may not matter as much as in many other states
39. Many people will envy and admire you for moving to Washington
40. You can experience many different lifestyles in Washington
41. People in Washington are open-minded and open to new things
42. You can make many nice day trips in the Washington region
43. Population in Washington state is growing
44. Decent future outlook for the state of Washington

Above-average income level in Washington state

One advantage of living in Washington is that the overall income level is pretty decent compared to the US average and you may therefore be able to make more money in the Washington region from your job than in most other parts of the US.

Highly-qualified people may be able to make really good money

Especially if you have really good education and skills urgently needed in the job market right now, chances are you will be able to make a small fortune in this region and if you invest your money in a clever manner, you may be able to retire rather early.

Many opportunities to build a strong business network in the rural parts of Washington

Since many big corporations have settled down in the big cities of Washington, there are not only many really decent jobs but also many ambitious people to hang out with and you can therefore also build a pretty strong business network in the Washington region in the long run.

Washington offers lots of beautiful nature

Another benefit of living in Washington is that you will also be surrounded by beautiful nature.

In fact, the mountains are not far away from the major cities and you can therefore find many great places to relax close to your home and can also make many unique memories with your loved ones.

You can spend your leisure outdoors

Since you can go fishing, hunting and do many other nice things in Washington nature, living in this region also allows you to spend lots of time outdoors and this may not only keep you fit but may also get you into a pretty good mood.

Pretty decent air quality in most parts of Washington

You should also know that overall air quality is pretty decent in most parts of Washington and this can be great since it may reduce the risk of suffering from serious pulmonary problems in the long run.

You can get lots of natural exercise in Washington

Thanks to the many nice things you can do in Washington nature, you can also get lots of natural exercise through hiking, rock climbing and so on and by burning lots of calories through those activities, chances are you will stay in shape much better compared to people who just sit indoors all day long staring at a computer.

Washington is located at the coast

Since Washington has a broad coastline, you will also be able to enjoy many nice hours at the beach where you can not only swim but also go surfing or just relax at the beach.

Washington is a great state to balance body and mind

Since there are so many great things to do in nature, you will be able to experience natural processes on a regular basis and those experiences may help you balance your body and your mind so you can be a fully energetic person as often as possible and may have enough power to achieve your dreams.

Washington is a pretty tolerant state

Another upside to living in Washington is that it is also a pretty tolerant state and you therefore don’t have to worry about your background or your country of origin but can rather enjoy your time in a pretty diverse environment where everyone will be welcome as long as he or she is a nice person and knows how to behave.

You can meet many helpful people in Washington

You should also know that people in Washington are usually pretty helpful and during your first weeks when everything may be unfamiliar to you, chances are you will be able to find many people who are willing to help you out so you can become a valid member of society fairly quickly.

Easy to connect with people in Washington

Since most people in Washinton love to socialize, you will also be able to make many new social connections and friends rather quickly and your risk of getting socially isolated will be rather small.

Decent bars and clubs in the major cities of Washington

As long as you move to one of the biggest cities in Washington, you will also be able to find many decent bars and clubs and can party until the early morning with many other like-minded people.

Decent schools and colleges in the Washington region

In the big cities of Washington, you will also find many decent colleges and schools where your kids can get solid education and good prospects for their future lives.

Washington is a rather popular state

You should also know that Washington is a pretty popular state.

Hence, many of your loved ones would secretly love changing places with you and you may be able to get a pretty high social standing among your peers.

Moving to Washington may help you relax

Moving to Washington may also make quite a lot of sense in case you are stressed right now and don’t get along with the place you live anymore since Washington is a pretty laid-back place and if you need time for yourself and want to slow down your life, taking the step of moving to a quiet place in Washington may make quite a lot of sense for you.

You can experience many different cultures in Washington

Another advantage of moving to Washington is that you will also be able to experience many different cultures.

In fact, Washington is a pretty tolerant place where people from all over the world feel welcome and you can therefore just hang out with many great people of different nationalities.

You can get friends with interesting people from all over the world

Since Washington is such a tolerant place, you will also be able to meet many great and interesting people from all over the planet and can listen to many exciting stories those people often have to tell.

Moving to Washington may help you expand your horizon

Since you can meet so many new and different people, you may also be able to expand your horizon and grow in character quite a bit so you may be able to become a more mature person in the long run.

The big cities of Washington offer everything you need close to your home

If you move to one of the big metropolitan regions of Washington, you will also find most things you need pretty close to your home and will be able to live your life in a pretty efficient manner.

Many recreational areas in the Washington region

You will also find many green spaces, parks and other recreational areas in the big cities of Washington and those things just increase overall quality of life since you will be able to relax from your stressful life on a regular basis and may be able to stay emotionally healthy in the long run.

Good balance of professional opportunities and places to relax

By moving to one of the big cities of Washington state, you will also have a pretty great mix of good job opportunities and places to relax and this can be great since you may be able to make pretty good money while you may still have many opportunities to spend this money with your loved ones and can also slow down your life from time to time.

Washington is not the most crowded state

Another upside to moving to Washington is that it is just not the most crowded state and you will therefore not run into large groups of people on a regular basis but can rather spend your life in a relaxed manner.

Traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Washington

Outside of the biggest cities, traffic is also not a big problem in Washington and you will therefore be able to get around by car in a proper manner while people living in New York City or other crowded states will often lose lots of time in traffic jams on a regular basis.

Rather easy to find a parking lot outside of the big cities of Washington

Since population density in Washington is rather low, you will also find more than enough parking opportunities in most parts of Washington while people in other regions often have to search for a parking lot for quite a long time and may also have to pay far more money for it.

Washington may be a great state to become independent

Also in case you no longer want to be a part of modern society, Washington may be a great place to live a self-sufficient life since there are so many natural places and you may be able to buy a piece of farmland at a rather low price and grow your own veggies there so you may be able to reduce your dependency on conventional stores quite a bit.

You can forage for food in many regions of Washington

Thanks to numerous natural environments, you will also be able to forage for food quite a lot and this may further reduce your dependency on buying groceries from food stores, at least if you know what you are doing and are also willing to put in some work.

You can experience real seasons in the state of Washington

Since you will be able to enjoy warm summers and rather cool winters, Washington can be a great state if you love experiencing real seasons since those different climatic conditions can make your life just more interesting in the long run.

Many free things you can do in the Washington region

While living costs may be pretty high, there are still many nice things you can do in Washington nature and you may therefore be able to save lots of money in the long run.

You don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods

Since public infrastructure is pretty decent, you also don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods in the Washington region anytime soon and will find most things you need close to your home.

Washington may be an interesting place for students

Washington also becomes increasingly popular among students since the big cities of Washington offer decent universities while living costs for students in Washington may still be lower compared to people studying in Los Angeles or other much more expensive regions.

Washington can be a great place to retire

While Washington may be a great place for young people, it also has many nice things to offer to the older generation and retiring in Washington state has therefore become increasingly popular in the recent past.

Decent internet connection in most parts of Washington

Another benefit of moving to Washington is that you will also have a pretty decent internet connection in most parts of the state and this is great since it may enable you to work from home and you can also make nice video calls with your loved ones living in different parts of the US and you can stay up-to-date with latest developments in general.

You have enough space for yourself in public

Since Washington is not a crowded state yet, you will also have more than enough places to hang out in public on your own during times you just don’t want to talk to people but rather need time for yourself to think about complex problems that need to be fixed.

You may be able to meet many smart guys and gals in Washington

Since highly-qualified people can make pretty good money in the Washington region, the state also attracts many talented people from all over the world and by meeting up with those people, you may be able to learn quite a lot for your own life and may be able to use this knowledge to become a better version of yourself in the long run.

Decent doctors and hospitals in the urban parts of Washington

As long as you move to the biggest cities of Washington, you also don’t have to worry about running out of good medical infrastructure since you will have many solid doctors pretty close to your home.

You will be welcome no matter where you come from

Since Washington is a pretty tolerant state, you will also be welcome in this region no matter what your background is and if you are a lovely person, chances are you will be able to connect to many awesome people in this region.

Money may not matter as much as in many other states

While money may matter to a certain extent, it may still not play as big of a role in Washington as in many other states since inner values and kindness may be much more important to many people in this region.

Many people will envy and admire you for moving to Washington

Since Washington has become a pretty popular place to live, many of your loved ones will admire you for taking the step of moving to Washington and chances are they will also visit you pretty frequently in this region.

You can experience many different lifestyles in Washington

Since you will be able to meet so many people with different cultural backgrounds, you will also be able to experience many different lifestyles in the Washington region and may be able to really grow in character in the long run.

People in Washington are open-minded and open to new things

You should also know that many people in Washington are pretty open to experiencing many new things and if you are the type of curious person who always wants to try new stuff, chances are you will get pretty happy in the Washington region.

You can make many nice day trips in the Washington region

Since there are so many nice things you can do in nature, you can also make many nice day trips in the Washington region and may be able to make many unique experiences with your loved ones while this still gives you the opportunity to relax.

Population in Washington state is growing

Since Washington has become increasingly popular over the past decades, also overall population is growing quite rapidly and this is usually a sign that people feel comfortable and welcome.

Decent future outlook for the state of Washington

Due to decent income levels, a strong economy and growing population numbers, living in Washington may become even more popular in the future and Washington may therefore be a great place to live for many decades.

As you can see, there are many reasons for moving to Washington.

Yet, there are still some drawbacks of living in Washington state that I want to address in the following so you will get a more realistic picture of reality and will be better able to decide whether you want to move to Washington in the long run or rather want to live in Georgia or other interesting places.

Disadvantages of Living in Washington

1. Living costs in Washington are above national average
2. Property prices have increased quite a lot over the past decades
3. Rents are pretty high in the urban parts of Washington state
4. Many people in the big cities no longer know how to afford housing
5. You may need lots of money to afford a decent lifestyle in the Washington region
6. Significant financial pressure for people moving to Washington state
7. Rather high unemployment rate in Washington
8. Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs
9. Washington may become increasingly crowded in the future
10. Nature may become increasingly polluted
11. You may not be able to meet as many international tourists as in other states
12. Washington is a rather quiet state
13. You may miss exciting things to do outside of the big cities
14. Limited number of entertainment options in the rural parts of Washington
15. Hard to find good education in the smaller towns and villages
16. Medical infrastructure may not be great outside of the big cities
17. You may miss great nightlife in the rural parts of Washington
18. Public transport is not great in most parts of Washington state
19. Distances can be pretty long in the rural regions of Washington state
20. People in rural regions may have a hard time organizing their lives
21. It may take you quite a long time to visit friends in other parts of Washington
22. Your loved ones may have a hard time visiting you in the smaller towns
23. Not many really big cities in Washington
24. Level of cultural diversity may become lower outside of the big cities
25. Not many great shopping options in the rural parts of Washington
26. Natural disasters may become more common in the future
27. Costs of homeowner insurance may increase quite a lot
28. Washington may already be overrated

Living costs in Washington are above national average

One problem with living in Washington state is that living costs are pretty high and this means you will have to spend lots of money on many things of daily life and may need a rather big budget to afford a decent lifestyle.

Property prices have increased quite a lot over the past decades

You should also be aware of the fact that property prices in Washington have increased quite a lot over the past decades and buying a home has therefore become unaffordable for many people in the urban parts of the state.

Rents are pretty high in the urban parts of Washington state

Not only property prices have skyrocketed but also rents are no longer affordable for many people in the Washington region and people often have to spend high fractions of their incomes on housing which may take away the opportunity to save and invest enough money for retirement.

Many people in the big cities no longer know how to afford housing

Some people in the Washington region also no longer know how to pay their rent and may just have to leave this region sooner or later since housing is eating up almost all of their disposable income.

You may need lots of money to afford a decent lifestyle in the Washington region

Due to rather high housing and living costs, you may also need quite a lot of money to afford many nice things in the Washington region and unless you make pretty good money from your job or have inherited a small fortune, you may get into serious financial trouble in this region in the long run.

Significant financial pressure for people moving to Washington state

Another downside to living in Washington is that due to high living and housing costs, also overall financial pressure for people moving to Washington is really high and if you are the type of person who is not able to deal with this sort of pressure in a proper manner, you may just have to worry about your finances quite often which may greatly lower your overall quality of life.

Rather high unemployment rate in Washington

While there are some great jobs in Washington, you should still know that unemployment rate is pretty high in this region and many people therefore have to worry about losing their jobs on a daily basis.

Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs

Especially in case you don’t have proper education, you may not find good jobs and may have to work multiple low-wage jobs just to be able to pay your bills without any hope of a better life in the future.

Washington may become increasingly crowded in the future

Since many people from other states consider moving to Washington, population may increase quite a lot and Washington may become a really crowded state and overall quality of life may eventually decrease.

Nature may become increasingly polluted

Another disadvantage of living in Washington state is that beaches and other natural environments become increasingly polluted and if this trend continues, many recreational environments may be lost and overall quality of life may drop quite a lot.

You may not be able to meet as many international tourists as in other states

While Washington becomes increasingly popular by people from all over the US, it is still not the most popular state for international tourists and if you want to talk to those tourists on a regular basis, you may be better off moving to California or other more popular states by people from all over the world.

Washington is a rather quiet state

You should also know that Washington is a rather quiet state and if you are the type of person who needs action 24/7, you may be better off moving to Las Vegas or other more vibrant places instead.

You may miss exciting things to do outside of the big cities

Even though you may find more than enough things to do with your leisure in the big cities of Washington, things may change fairly quickly in the rural parts of the state where you will often run out of ideas in this regard.

Limited number of entertainment options in the rural parts of Washington

Also in case you don’t love nature, you may not find many entertainment options outside of the big cities and may just not get happy in the rural parts of Washington.

Hard to find good education in the smaller towns and villages

Another problem with moving to Washington is that while you may find some really solid schools and colleges in the major cities, overall quality of education may get worse in the rural regions of the state so you may not find great education for your kids nearby your home.

Medical infrastructure may not be great outside of the big cities

You should also not expect to find many really great doctors in the rural parts of Washington and you may therefore have to drive long distances in case of medical emergency if you don’t live in the major cities.

You may miss great nightlife in the rural parts of Washington

You should also know that nightlife is not really awesome in many smaller towns and villages and if you are a party animal, you may not get happy in those parts of Washington in the long run.

Public transport is not great in most parts of Washington state

Another downside to moving to Washington is that public transport is not great outside in most regions and you may therefore urgently need a car to get around and this is not only bad for our environment but may also hurt your finances in the long run.

Distances can be pretty long in the rural regions of Washington state

If you want to move to rather remote regions, distances can also be pretty long and you may have to drive quite a lot to get to the next decent grocery store and for many other important things of life.

People in rural regions may have a hard time organizing their lives

Since distances can be pretty long, many people in the rural parts of Washington may have to spend lots of time organizing their lives since they will often have to spend lots of time in their car for getting around and may therefore live a rather inefficient life.

It may take you quite a long time to visit friends in other parts of Washington

Since Washington is a rather big state, it may also take you quite a lot of time to visit your friends in other parts of the state while this would often be much easier in smaller territories.

Your loved ones may have a hard time visiting you in the smaller towns

While the big cities of Washington are accessible by plane through big airports, this is not true for the smaller remote towns where your loved ones will often have a rather hard time visiting you since they would have to drive long hours which would often make their travel plans pretty complex.

Not many really big cities in Washington

Another disadvantage of moving to Washington is that there are also not many really big cities in this region and if you love big city life and want to live in a really big metropolitan region, you may be better off moving to San Diego or other major cities in the US.

Level of cultural diversity may become lower outside of the big cities

While you will be able to experience high levels of cultural diversity in the big cities of Washington, you may still miss cultural diversity in the smaller towns where people may be a little bit more conservative.

Not many great shopping options in the rural parts of Washington

Even though you may find many fancy boutiques in the biggest cities of Washington, you may still not find as many fancy shopping opportunities once you get to the rural parts of the state and may not get happy in one of those regions if you are the type of person who loves following fashion trends.

Natural disasters may become more common in the future

Due to climate change, you should also know that storms and other natural disasters may become more common in Washington in the future and you may just lose everything you have in one of those tragic events in case you are unlucky.

Costs of homeowner insurance may increase quite a lot

Since natural disasters will likely become more common, also costs of homeowners insurance will likely increase quite a lot in the long run which will make living in this region even more expensive.

Washington may already be overrated

While Washington state has many nice things to offer, it may still be overrated in terms of money you have to spend on many things and Washington may just no longer be a rather secret tip anymore.

Top 10 Moving to Washington Pros & Cons – Summary List

Is Washington a Good Place to Live?

While moving to Washington may make quite a lot of sense since you can enjoy lots of beautiful nature and can also make solid money from your job, you should still know that Washington has become increasingly expensive in terms of living and housing costs and many people are no longer able to afford a decent lifestyle in this region.

In the end, it is on you to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of living in Washington state so you will be better able to decide for yourself whether you want to live in this region in the long run.

Most Popular Cities to Live in Washington – Comparison

Alternative States to Live

If you no longer want to move to Washington, you may also want to have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Virginia

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Tennessee

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Texas

Sources

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/WA

https://www.statista.com/study/23411/washington-statista-dossier/

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.