Washington DC vs Seattle. More desirable to live in? (places, America, populations)
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This question is going to come down to whether you prefer the east coast or NW culture, climate, and urban environment. Its apples and oranges when it comes to the differences between these two cities. They are literally polar opposites in diversity, built environment, pace of life, culture, climate, style, etc. etc. etc.
- Seattle being in the middle of nowhere can go either way - better outdoors, but DC is near many other cool cities like NYC and Philly and beaches (actual beachtowns like Ocean City and Virginia Beach), and still has lots of nature nearby like the Appalachians and Shenandoah.
- Seattle's weather is a joke while DC has four season and an actual summertime (which you can enjoy a nearby beach). Seems like for every 5 people who move to Seattle, 3 or 4 will soon leave simply because of the depression-inducing climate.
- Seattle has really weird passive aggressive isolationist people, DC doesn't have the best people in the world but they don't have the "Seattle Freeze".
- DC has better history and architecture, and the area is also a lot more diverse.
Right... 80% of the people that move their entire life to Seattle quickly pack their bags and head for better horizons. Your theory has to be right.
And the only people that struggle with that "Seattle Freeze" that you probably read about on the internet are the people with zero social skills to begin with.
While I haven't been to Seattle and I know I would love it, I just can't stand gloomy weather nor homogeneous populations. While Seattle does have its diversity, for being a major city it's pretty homogeneous, esp compared to its peers. I am big into Latin American culture, and I get the impression in Seattle it's not prevalent. But at the same time I love the ocean and mountains, and I am very outdoorsy.
I love DC. What I don't like is the homogeneous workforce, meaning mostly everyone works for the government that lives there or the transient feel it has as well. Like no one is really from DC originally. But I do love its diversity, architecture and the urban experience it gives you.
I would have to go with DC. I think it would just offer more of what I like to have on a daily basis which is ethnic diversity (in regards to people, restaurants) and a dense, walkable and beautiful city. Also, DC is closer to a lot more while Seattle is a lot more isolated. My annual trips to Miami would become a big problem if I lived in Seattle.
I've been to both. Although DC is the capital, IMO it doesn't stack up to Seattle(hence why Californians are moving there in droves). The only advantage i see in DC is museums/monuments(obviously) and the whole gov experience/importance. Other than that, Seattle is more techie, a major manufacturing city, picturesque, you have Puget Sound to look at(not a river), mountains, skyline) etc..etc.. I prefer Seattle..
- Seattle's weather is a joke while DC has four season and an actual summertime (which you can enjoy a nearby beach). Seems like for every 5 people who move to Seattle, 3 or 4 will soon leave simply because of the depression-inducing climate.
Seattle has a fantastic summer, a lovely autumn, a mild spring, and a dreary yet not freezing winter. The weather here is actually fantastic depending on who you ask, and drastically over-exaggerated.
While I haven't been to Seattle and I know I would love it, I just can't stand gloomy weather nor homogeneous populations. While Seattle does have its diversity, for being a major city it's pretty homogeneous, esp compared to its peers. I am big into Latin American culture, and I get the impression in Seattle it's not prevalent. But at the same time I love the ocean and mountains, and I am very outdoorsy.
I love DC. What I don't like is the homogeneous workforce, meaning mostly everyone works for the government that lives there or the transient feel it has as well. Like no one is really from DC originally. But I do love its diversity, architecture and the urban experience it gives you.
I would have to go with DC. I think it would just offer more of what I like to have on a daily basis which is ethnic diversity (in regards to people, restaurants) and a dense, walkable and beautiful city. Also, DC is closer to a lot more while Seattle is a lot more isolated. My annual trips to Miami would become a big problem if I lived in Seattle.
Almost 300,000 of DC's 660,000 population is originally from The City and its near suburbs, a majority of the local inner city Black population. Yes there's hella transplants in DC but there's still more than a good number of native-born Washingtonians living there.
LOL ummmmm what? Seattle is a cool city but the fact that you think it's a clear winner is pretty funny.
I pick Washington, D.C. for a multitude of reasons.
- Great history
-Better Architecture
-Better located(and not so isolated like Seattle)
-Has great 4 seasons and is not as cloudy and grey all the time
-People are not as stuck up
-Better public transportation system
-Basically all of the museums(which are world class) are free
- It's a quick flight or train ride to NYC
- Although seattle wins in outdoor life, DC has the Potomac river, many biking and hiking trails, it's near the coast,ect.
- Has better higher ed
- Has some of the best hotels and new restaurants in the country.
DC area is also growing and developing really quickly and the amount of new projects coming into the city is great. I would pick to live in DC over Seattle any day of the week.
Overall, I agree with most of this. I do think Seattle has slightly better restaurants overall, and I prefer the bar scene in Seattle, but most of what you wrote there is accurate. One bone to pick, though, is about the people. I found people in DC to generally have a very preppy, stuck up vibe. I guess you could argue that Seattlites (city proper and the Eastside, but not other suburbs or other cities in the region, like Tacoma and Everett, which actually feel pretty blue collar) have a more smarmy, know-it-all vibe. But the people in DC are at least as stuck up, just in a different way. Also, Seattle has a West Coast vibe, hills, and much better natural beauty and outdoor opportunities, which some people prefer. It also has a really strong maritime culture and feel that DC lacks.
Also, while it is isolated compared to DC, there are two cool cities within an under-3 hour drive (Portland and Vancouver BC)
From an urbanism perspective, I would say Seattle has a better mixed-use downtown. But, DC has better urban neighborhoods. Overall, I would say DC's sizable advantage in the neighborhoods out way Seattle's more modest advantage in the downtown.
Leaving aside the wildcard that is LA, I would say these are the top two urban cities outside the NYC, CHI, SF, PHILLY,BOS, PHILLY crew. DC actually stacks up pretty well with Boston and Philly, but I penalize it for it's underwhelming downtown. It doesn't really have a big central city core like the others. Seattle is still a tier below the Bos, Philly, DC crew, but it catching up. Perhaps in a generation it will be on par.
From an urbanism perspective, I would say Seattle has a better mixed-use downtown. But, DC has better urban neighborhoods. Overall, I would say DC's sizable advantage in the neighborhoods out way Seattle's more modest advantage in the downtown.
Leaving aside the wildcard that is LA, I would say these are the top two urban cities outside the NYC, CHI, SF, PHILLY,BOS, PHILLY crew. DC actually stacks up pretty well with Boston and Philly, but I penalize it for it's underwhelming downtown. It doesn't really have a big central city core like the others. Seattle is still a tier below the Bos, Philly, DC crew, but it catching up. Perhaps in a generation it will be on par.
It has a big central city core. In fact, its CBD has the third largest employment population after NYC and Chicago. It just doesn't have skyscrapers.
Dallas? Sorry but I can't take that list seriously now with that city high up there. I been there many times, and while you get good cost of living, there are certainly very little redeeming qualities that makes it desirable. I have many friends that live there that echo the same thoughts, and generally says it's very boring and don't plan to stay there forever. So to have it ranked number 4 in the country as a favorite over Chicago and San Fran and others makes me question whether this really was a poll...
^^^This. I moved from Dallas to DC after living there for 2 years for these EXACT reasons. So much happier in DC despite the COL, traffic and all. I do miss Dallas shopping though.
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