Moving to Washington

Washington, otherwise known as ‘The Evergreen State’, is a wonderful state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to WA, we have compiled a detailed list of some important facts and useful information to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the Pacific Region of the country, Washington is bordered by Idaho and Oregon. With a total land area of over 71,299.64 Square Miles, it comes in as the 18th largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of WA is 7,288,000 making it the 13th most populated state in the union and the 24th least densely populated. The state capital, Olympia, has a population of 42514. which is the 10th smallest capital in the country.

Notable Washingtonians

Washington is home to various famous and some infamous people such as, Douglas Dorland Anderson a notable archaeoligist is from Olympia and Earl Anthony a prominent bowler is from Kent. Others include people like Bob Barker a TV host and Dyan Cannon a actress .

Climate

Washington’s location in the heart of the middle latitudes exposes it to frequent storm systems associated with the mid-latitude jet stream. Its climate varies widely from the western to the eastern parts of the state due to the physical barrier of the Cascade Mountains. The Pacific Ocean provides abundant moisture, causing frequent precipitation west of the Cascade Mountains that is orographically enhanced in some places. The eastern side generally receives less precipitation due to blocking of moisture by the mountains. Temperatures in the central and eastern portions of the state are not as strongly moderated by the ocean and exhibit a greater annual range compared to the western side of the state.

Mean annual temperature has increased
approximately 1.5°F over the last two decades.
Winter warming has been characterized by a far
below average number of occurrences of extremely
cold days since 1990. Under a higher emissions
pathway, historically unprecedented warming
is projected by the end of the 21st century.

Rising temperatures will lead to earlier melting of the snowpack, which plays a critical role in spring and summer water supplies. Along with more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow, this may also lead to an increase in springtime flooding

Wildfires during the dry summer months are of great concern, and the frequency of wildfire occurrence and severity is projected to increase in Washington

National Parks

Washington is home to 3 beautiful national parks.

• Mount Rainier

  Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the most prominent peak in the Cascades, and is covered by 26 named glaciers including Carbon Glacier and Emmons Glacier, the largest in the contiguous United States. The mountain is popular for climbing, and more than half of the park is covered by subalpine and alpine forests and meadows seasonally in bloom with wildflowers. Paradise on the south slope is the snowiest place on Earth where snowfall is measured regularly. The Longmire visitor center is the start of the Wonderland Trail, which encircles the mountain.

• North Cascades

  This complex encompasses two units of the National Park itself as well as the Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. The highly glaciated mountains are spectacular examples of Cascade geology. Popular hiking and climbing areas include Cascade Pass, Mount Shuksan, Mount Triumph, and Eldorado Peak.

• Olympic

  Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, this park includes a wide range of ecosystems from Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the alpine slopes of Mount Olympus. The scenic Olympic Mountains overlook the Hoh Rain Forest and Quinault Rain Forest, the wettest area in the contiguous United States, with the Hoh receiving an average of almost 12ft (3.7m) of rain every year.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important consideration when moving to a new state. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its citizens, it drastically affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Washington’s violent crime rate is 28 per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 370per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.

Washington ranks #31 in the US for violent crime and #2 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Washington’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C

Washington spends on average $9908.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). WA ranks #20 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While WA ranks #20 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 78.20%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Washington ranks #38 with over 40.40% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Washington is 0.00% which ranks 1st favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. WA’s rate is $28.07 which ranks 21st in the US.

Currently, WA sales tax is $33.16 for which it comes in as 42nd compared to other states.

Sports

Washington fans are not only loyal but also very unwavering to their local major league teams. Washington is home to the following teams: the Seattle Mariners, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Seattle Sounders FC .

Utility Companies

Before you move to Washington, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in WA.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Washington, visit their website at http://access.wa.gov/