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| What Seattle is like for active adults |
Choosing Seattle, Washington as your retirement community has many advantages. You get a walkable downtown with great public transportation. Many apartments and homes overlook harbors, lakes, parks, and mountains. Great boating, skiing, hiking are all at your doorstep, as are many cultural programs. Opportunities of every description for paid work or volunteering are all around you.
Seattle (population 537,000) draws in retirees who are looking for a bustling and diverse community. As a magnet for young people (average age here is 36) it has a youthful flair that helps keep people young. Originally a pioneer outpost, the Yukon Gold Rush transformed Seattle into a major city. It is the commercial hub of the Pacific Northwest.
There are many neighborhoods in the city for retirees - old and new, stand alone houses or apartments. If you are thinking of moving to Seattle you would probably want to visit or rent here first to get a feel for the many different neighborhoods. In the suburbs there are many developments to choose from. According to the National Association of Realtors the median selling price of a home in the Seattle/Bellevue/Tacoma market in 2007's 4th quarter was $377,500 - essentially unchanged from the year earlier period. These prices should be viewed with caution because of the wide variety of home types and neighborhoods.
What it is like to retire in Washington State. Here are our reviews of Bellingham and Walla Walla |
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| What is special about this community |
| • A major city that remains manageable
• Great parks and views of harbors, lakes and mountains
• Downtown shopping
• Charming Neighborhoods
• Seattle Public Library is perhaps the best public library in the country
• Space Needle
• Pioneer Square
• Experience Music Project
• Fishermen’s Terminal
• 3 Professional sports teams |
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| What is not special about this community |
| • Have to be ready for an urban environment
• It is expensive
• Summers are a lot nicer than winters here |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
| Active adults 55+ will like living here because it is one of the world’s great cities in a beautiful natural setting. There is a strong economic base with ample opportunities for work – paid and volunteer. It is a great place for both culture and outdoor activity. |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| Big business, Tourism, Services. The Emerald City has a large tax base with large employers such as Boeing and Microsoft in the area. |
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| Physical environment |
| Seattle is located in northwestern Washington on Puget Sound. From here you can get to the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands and British Columbia by boat or car. Winters tend to be wet and dark, and summers are beautiful with long, long days. |
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| Cultural environment |
| Seattle has a cultural scene that befits one of the world’s great cities. The Seattle Symphony is in the Benaroya Hall. Leading cultural institutions include the Seattle Opera, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Experience Music Project. There are 13 professional theater companies and scores of amateur productions. There is an annual Film Festival along with the International Children’s Theater Festival. The University of Washington also has a major cultural impact on the region. The Seattle Public Library is outstanding and a popular tourist attraction. |
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| Medical facilities |
| There is an array of major hospitals, including the University of Washington’s Teaching Hospital. |
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| Transportation |
| Seattle-Tacoma Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country. Amtrak has a major station here. The trolleys and buses of Metro Transit provide excellent public transportation around town. The state ferry system has an extensive network. |
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| Seattle Active Communities |
| Facts about SEATTLE | | State | : WA | | Environment | : Urban,Suburban,College Town,Coastal,Lake, | | City Population | : 100,001+ | | Median age of Population | : 25-44 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 41-60 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $300,001-$500,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : NA | | Total Crime Index | : 111-120 (high) | | Cost of Living Index | : 111-120 (high) | | Culture Index | : 121+ (very high) | | Name of the Guide | : |
| | Can you add to or correct these Facts? Or do you have a photo of this community we could use? If so, please click on |
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Vote on the Ratings for Seattle |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 3.4/5 ( 5 votes cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 4.3/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 3.5/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 4.3/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 2.8/5 ( 5 votes cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 3 votes cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 4.3/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 4 votes cast)
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