A Guide for Moving from Houston to Seattle, WA

Moving can be an incredibly taxing, stress-inducing process. The idea of uprooting one’s entire life and belongings in the name of relocating is difficult enough, but the idea of doing so and then moving not just across state lines but across the entire country is nigh unfathomable.

That’s why you need and deserve a professional moving company that can assist you in more ways than you can possibly imagine, making the seemingly impossible task of moving such a great distance easier than you could ever believe.

Fortunately, we here at Delta Moving Systems are to provide exactly that to our customers. As a fully licensed and equipped Houston moving company, our professionally trained movers are prepared to offer a wide range of moving and storage services specifically engineered to cater to your unique moving needs.

We even offer our customers in the greater Houston area short- and long-term storage solutions to optimize their moving experience and take even more of the burden off your shoulders.

Our professional team is comprised of some of the greatest movers in the moving industry, and they are currently standing by, waiting to serve you. To begin your moving journey with our incredible crew here at Delta Moving Systems, simply call today!

Simply Call (800) 484-0085 For Easy and Convenient Services

• Call us whenever is most convenient for you, and we will happily answer any and all of your questions.
• At Delta, our top priorities are honesty, authenticity, and transparency in pricing.
• We always provide a free in-home estimate with no hidden fees!

Interstate Moving Companies and their Moving Services

One of the most important things to understand when it comes to long-distance cross-country moving services is the importance of hiring one of the officially certified interstate moving companies.

Being an officially certified interstate moving company means that the moving company is legally allowed to and approved for providing moving services that cross state lines. Suppose a moving company is not officially certified as an interstate moving company. In that case, they are more than welcome to provide moving services within the state they reside in but are not allowed to go any further.

Delta Moving Systems is an officially certified and approved interstate moving company, meaning that our team is more than qualified and prepared to provide you with long-distance moving services.

Best Houston to Seattle Movers

At Delta Moving Systems, our highly efficient and professional team of Houston movers has over a decade of combined long-distance, interstate, and cross-country moving services experience under their belts.

At Delta, our team knows how to serve you best when it comes to the safe packing and transportation of your belongings because we’ve been doing it so successfully for so long now. During the extended length of time our crew has been providing these services, one of the most increasingly common moves that our movers have performed time and time again is for residents of Houston, TX, moving to Seattle, WA.

If you are considering a move to Seattle, WA, in the near future, here are some things to consider.

From the Space City to the Emerald City with Delta Moving Systems

When moving from Houston to Seattle, it’s of the utmost importance that you understand exactly what kind of city you are moving to. Trading out the Space City and its distinctly Texas aesthetics, workforce, and environments for the Emerald City and its much more pleasant summer high and northwest vibes is a big choice and one that we at Delta Moving Systems are happy to assist you with.

As one of the highest-rated cross-country moving companies in the country, with a stellar reputation among our customers, competitors, and all Seattle movers, we are thrilled to assist you in any way that we can on your move and transition from Space City to Emerald City.

The Emerald City’s Thriving Economy

Seattle, WA, offers great employment and work opportunities for many different and diverse career paths. One of the most popular of these, by far, is for the tech industry.

The tech industries have helped to stimulate the booming Emerald City economy, but Seattle, WA, is so much more than just that.

This west coast seaport city (as opposed to a west coast bay area city) also hosts many more vast employing companies and businesses well outside of the tech industry niche. This includes institutions such as the University of Washington and Providence Health & Services, which employ thousands of workers within the city limits of Seattle, WA.

Beyond simply sporting a vibrant economy right now in 2023, it is also projected that Seattle’s job market will only continue to expand and grow quite rapidly in the coming years. According to current estimates, Seattle, WA, will see a projected 44% increase in the availability of jobs within its job market over the course of the next ten years.

Comparing the Job Market of Houston to Seattle, WA

As a quick aside, we here at Delta Moving Systems would like to maintain our unbiased position as a professional moving company and take this moment to point out that those exact same estimates see the job market of Houston growing approximately 31% within this same timeframe.

So while both H town and Seattle, WA, are slated to see unprecedented and fantastic growth within the next decade, Seattle’s job growth is slated to prove even more impressive than Houston’s own. When comparing the job market of Houston to Seattle, WA, there is a clear winner. To move from Houston, TX, out to the northwest is a big commitment, but one that could very well be worth it for you in the long run.

The Emerald City and its Remarkable Job Market

According to Forbes, it ranks second among the highest-paying cities in the United States, with an average salary of over $100k per industry worker. This is substantially more than many other cities’ average salary, making Seattle one of the highest-paying cities in the country.

Its placement as one of the highest-paying cities is thanks, in no small part, to the fact that several of the top tech companies in the world are based out of Seattle, including Amazon. This has brought a swell of tech jobs, and tech job growth to downtown Seattle as companies such as Amazon fill out their necessary roster of tech jobs with localized workers.

This need for intellectual workers to fill out these roles also contributes greatly to Seattle’s reputation as one of the smartest cities in the United States.

Large Employers in Seattle

Other well-known industrial activities in the Emerald City include maritime, biotech, health care, shipping, and construction-fueled industries. Seattle is even home to the base of the original coffee monolith, Starbucks. Starbucks continues to employ a large number of Seattle workers.

Companies such as Amazon and Starbucks having their base of operations in Seattle, contribute greatly to the Emerald City and its vibrant economy, giving it one of the largest city economies in the United States.

Also labeled as one of the smartest cities thanks to this booming economy and its place at the epicenter of so much of our modern era’s largest businesses (Amazon and Starbucks are two of the most successful industries of the 21st Century), other major cities struggle to compare to Seattle.

Seattle’s Starbucks: From Coffee Shop to Coffee Industry

Seattle locals are downright proud of their ownership of Starbucks. Starbucks, an internationally famous and incredible coffee brand whose incredible coffee and distinct marketing are known across the globe, originated in the Emerald City all the way back in 1971.

In the years since then, Starbucks has gone from being a lone coffee shop on the streets of Seattle to being recognized and acclaimed the world over, becoming one of the most successful and fastest-growing companies of the past two decades.

Beyond just Starbucks, Seattle remained immensely proud of and invested in the fostering of new coffee shops as well. There are many locally-owned and operated coffee shops within Seattle, as Seattle and its people are quick to remind visitors that without local patronage, Starbucks would never have become such a success story in the first place.

Economy and Job Growth

As profoundly demonstrated by the estimates we shared earlier (the ones in which it was predicted that Seattle’s job market would grow an astounding 44% over the next ten years), Seattle was named one of the most rapidly growing and expanding cities in the United States by the American Enterprise Institute.

Seattle’s remarkable fortune once again bolstered this accomplishment in hosting numerous large corporations’ central bases of output, including but not limited to Amazon, Starbucks, and Boeing.

Houston’s economic development has a strong advantage over other cities., but once again, upon comparing Houston to Seattle, it comes into clearer focus exactly why this move has become one of the most frequent and popular cross-country moving services we at Delta Moving Systems have performed over the last number of years.

Comparing Taxes: Houston to Seattle

When moving from Houston to Seattle, you’ll undoubtedly be looking for new housing for you and your family. While the housing market itself and cost of living will be covered later, let’s take a look at exactly what kind of taxes homeowners in Seattle can expect vs. what you may have experienced in Houston.

County Tax Rates

You will no doubt be very pleased and perhaps a bit surprised to learn that Seattle has an average county tax rate of only 0.953%. This rate is less than half of what customers moving from Houston would expect, as Houston’s current country tax rate is 2.090%.

To put this into more concrete, simpler terms: with an $800,000 home in Seattle, you would pay $7,624 in property taxes annually. The exact same house for the exact same price would cost you over $16,720 annually, according to Houston’s country tax rate plan.

So once again, when comparing Houston to Seattle, even we Houston movers here at Delta Moving Systems have to acknowledge the vastly superior country tax rates of Seattle, WA.

Sales Tax

The bad news for residents moving from Houston to Seattle is that the sales tax is a bit higher in Seattle. Whereas Houston collects only a minimum combined sales tax rate of 8.25%, Seattle collects a minimum combined sales tax rate of 10.1%.

Here, for arguably the first time, when comparing Houston to Seattle, Delta Moving Systems is proud to definitively be able to say that Houston does come out on top!

Income Tax

Fortunately for our customers moving from Houston to Seattle, Seattle is one of the very few states in the country that does not impose a state income tax on its residents.

Comparing Houston to Seattle Income Taxes

Just as Houston and Texas as a whole do not have an individual income tax, Seattle and Washington State do not have a state income tax either, so individuals moving from Houston to Seattle will be very happy to learn that this is not something they will have to give up or adjust to.

Things to Do

Seattle is an undeniably wonderful place to live, with so many activities and locations to visit and partake in. The Seattle metro area features an incredibly vibrant city life that contributes to the city’s healthy lifestyle. Seattle is also routinely rated as one of the most walkable cities in America, which serves to only further bolster its reputation as both having a vibrant city life and the city’s healthy lifestyle.

Being one of the most walkable cities allows its residents the freedom and opportunity to move about so freely; Seattle itself practically encourages these kinds of activities. In addition to this, it is also considered one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country, thanks to its protected bike lanes. Between being one of the most walkable cities, one of the most bicycle-friendly cities, and its protected bike lanes, it is clear that Seattle encourages ease of transportation that most cities do not.

While it is certainly possible that its trademark Washington State rains and storms can cause the city to be overcast and cloudy quite frequently, the residents of Seattle are nothing if not optimistic go-getters who never let such weather deter them from their outdoor activities.

Seattle has everything from amazing nature experiences to art and entertainment to nightlife. The Pike Place Market is an excellent place to be, featuring more than 100 vendors who offer everything from super fresh seafood to organic food. The Pike Place Market also features the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which given the coffee chain’s prominence and history with the city, has become something of a hotspot for fans of Starbucks and beyond.

Access to Nature

Another gargantuan contributor to Seattle’s reputation as one of the healthiest and most active cities in America is the spectacular scenery that surrounds and encompasses it and its relatively close proximity to the city and downtown areas.

Surrounded by majestic mountains and water on both ends, residents enjoy a spectacular panorama. To make this even more ideal, thanks in part to those aforementioned trademark clouds present in the area, Seattle’s average temperatures, even in the summer climate, are only in the 70s, making it absolutely delightful weather to be outside year-round.

Compare these more pleasant summers to Houston’s average temperatures in the summer climate, which are much warmer and much less pleasant.

Scenic Beauty at your Fingertips

To the west, there’s the gorgeous Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, such as Mount Rainier National Park, both of which offer spectacular scenery on the southern horizon of the city.

Puget Sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean that is a peaceful, serene, and beautiful area to visit. Puget Sound is routinely ranked among the top natural attractions in Seattle, and it’s easy to see why. There’s nothing else quite like Puget Sound.

Mount Rainier is, of course, home to Mount Rainier National Park, one of Seattle’s numerous incredible national parks. Local parks such as Mount Rainier, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park have become the calling cards of the Emerald City.

Beyond the beauty and majesty of Seattle’s bustling cityscape, there’s authentic natural beauty in these incredible national parks, such as the North Cascades National Park and more.

To this end, it is also more than worth noting that Seattle’s cityscape is the fourth greenest city in the country, thanks to its local parks, tree-lined streets, and gardens. Fixtures such as these tree-lined streets do a wonderful job of integrating the natural beauty of Seattle’s surrounding into the infrastructure of the city itself.

Lake Washington

If your only experience with bodies of water is that of those found in Houston, TX, our team here at Delta Moving Systems advises you to prepare yourself for the majestic beauty of the surrounding mountains and southern horizon in Seattle. Between Olympic National Park, Lake Washington, and Puget Sound, it’s truly a beauty to behold. One of the most drastic changes from Houston to Seattle is the sheer magnitude of beauty to be found in its natural resources.

Weather and Climate

Do you find Houston’s high temperature to be excessive and unpleasant to endure? Is that one of the primary reasons you’re moving to the notoriously lower-temperature city of Seattle in Washington State? If so, you are absolutely not alone.

Again, one of the most frequent cross-country moves that our team at Delta Moving Systems participates in and facilitates are Houston natives moving from Houston to Seattle, and one of the most common reasons given is that they wish to escape to more ideal weather-conditions

It’s not at all surprising that Houston, TX, residents long to be free from often excruciating 93°F summer temperatures.

Upon traveling to Seattle, you will find that even the highest of temperatures in Seattle during the summer (temperatures up to 76°F) can often be colder than those seen in Houston in winter. Meanwhile, winter temperatures in Seattle can sink as low as 37°F.

As mentioned earlier, Seattle is rather iconically and infamously rainy and dreary. While it isn’t nearly as bad as it has been played up to be for years in pop culture now, it is substantially rainier than Houston natives are likely accustomed to.

Excellent Education Seattle

Seattle is known for being one of the most intelligent cities in America. Over half of Seattle’s population has a bachelor’s degree, and the city is home to the largest public school district in Washington State, which studies have found routinely and continuously provides an excellent education.

Seattle is also home to top universities such as Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University School of Law, North Seattle College, University of Washington, and more. When comparing Houston to Seattle in terms of university options alone, Seattle offers unbeatable options.

Seattle Pacific University, North Seattle College, Seattle University School of Law, and the University of Washington are all top-notch schools that bring incredible levels of respect to their graduates and alumni.

Culture, Diversity, and Demographics in Seattle, WA

When comparing Seattle, WA, to the other big metropolitan areas within the same vicinity, Seattle has more diversity of races than the rest of the surrounding King County and its other major towns, such as Bellevue or Kent.

Recent reports have concluded that Seattle, WA, is actually among America’s most multicultural cities.

Seattle has approximately:

• 67.4% White residents
• 10.6% Asian residents
• 9.5% Hispanic & Latino residents
• 5.6% Black residents
• 6.5% mixed residents

Houston’s population, meanwhile, has approximately:

• 67.7% White residents
• 36.9% Hispanic & Latino residents
• 17.4% Black residents

Great Transportation

Seattle is known as one of the best walking cities in the country, and these high levels of activity are undoubtedly one of the reasons that Seattle’s healthiness levels have been and continue to be so high.

Between the city’s various outdoor activities, local parks, and the ease with which residents can travel to-and-from these locations is a fantastic blueprint for other cities to hopefully one day follow. It is a walkable city with a plethora of activities to participate in, in the truest sense.

Seattle and its Bicycle Lanes

It is also an extensively bicycle-friendly city, with dozens of miles of protected bike lanes. If walking or biking is not for you, Seattle, WA, also features extensive options which allow you to also travel by bus, tram, taxi, or by boat to reach the destination. with great transportation.

Seattle also even features its own state-of-the-art Link light rail system. This is a mass transport system that operates in service of Seattle, WA, residents as a rapid transport alternative to buses, taxis, or trams. The Link light rail system is managed by Sound Transit, working alongside fellow local transit providers.

Again, this is a clear indication and contributor of exactly why Seattle remains one of the healthiest and most educated cities in the country: so many different elements which are built into the very infrastructure of the city itself lend themselves to enabling Seattle, WA, residents to be able to enjoy such luxuries.

Housing and Cost of Living

Cost of Living

The west coast has long been notorious for its high prices, both in terms of housing and basic necessities, thus raising the cost of living in these states as well.

It is with no joy that Delta Moving Systems informs you that Seattle, WA, is sadly no exception. While Seattle, WA, is not nearly as egregious as some other west coast cities such as San Francisco (despite its astounding and flat-out ridiculous index of 269.3 out of 100), it is substantially more expensive than you would expect in Houston.

Seattle and its High Costs

The cost of living (in 2023) in Seattle, WA, is 172.4. Again, given that the national average is 100, 172.4 makes Seattle, WA, a significantly more expensive place to live than the vast majority of the United States. Still, this makes its cost of living index so much lower than practically any city in California.

Houston and its Relatively Low Costs

Houston’s cost of living index of 96.5 is below the national average. So while Houston residents would be facing a steep uphill climb when it comes to the general cost of living when moving from Houston to Seattle, it is important to keep in mind the reasoning behind that upcharge. Simply think of all the different things that we’ve already listed here that Seattle, WA, offers that Houston, TX, does not.

A walkable city, bike lanes, public transportation options, public parks, etc. All of these things are made possible by this excessive charging. So, in essence, you receive what it is you are paying for, one way or another.

Housing Prices

As mentioned, it’s important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for, regardless of what city you are living in. Here, in the cost of living and the cost of housing, is where Seattle, WA, more than makes up for its low taxes and incredible ease of transportation. Because while the cost of living in Seattle, WA, is substantially higher when comparing Houston to Seattle, the housing prices are what really make the difference.

Seattle vs. Houston: Meidan List Prices

In Houston, TX, the current median list price is $311,000, and the median rent of $1,500 per month. In Seattle, WA, the current median list price is $770,000, and the median rent of $2,350 per month. The difference in the median list price is easily the biggest differentiation between the cost of residing in Houston, TX, and the cost of residing in Seattle, WA.

Not only does this mean that Seattle, WA, has a highly-priced housing market, but it also means that Seattle, WA, has the flat-out most expensive housing market in the country. The Emerald City is a beauty with many viable options for many different things, but it does undoubtedly come at a steep price for housing.

Crime Rates

If, after that last section, you’re starting to second-guess your move to Seattle, we here at Delta Moving Systems would advise you not to move too rashly. Because every city has its ups and downs, and for this next category, Seattle, WA, is going to look like the reigning champion when comparing Houston to Seattle.

Houston and its High-Crime Rates

Houston, TX, has never precisely had a glowing reputation in public safety, despite admirable attempts from all involved. But in the past decade, things have gotten noticeably worse for Houston, TX. Houston is one of the top ten dangerous cities in the country.

When it comes to the violent crime rate in Seattle, WA, it’s much lower than in Houston, TX (with an index of 32 vs. 50). Both cities are working to improve their property crime rates. Houston, TX, has an index of 64, while Seattle, WA, currently has an index of 77.

Comparing Huston to Seattle Crime Rates

While the relatively higher property crime rates for each city are by no means a good thing, Seattle’s comparatively much lower violent crime rates are a testament to the city’s ingenuity in its regulation and construction. When comparing Houston to Seattle, those moving from Houston to Seattle will undoubtedly find it to be a much safer, more secure place to live.

Cost of Moving from Houston to Seattle

Moving is stressful, and it can become quite costly if you’re not hiring the right professional Houston to Seattle movers for the job. Choose a team of professional movers who can not only handle the job properly but ones who you can trust with your belongings as you move from Houston to the northwest. That’s where our team here at Delta Moving Systems comes in.

The Best Houston to Seattle Movers

At Delta, our goal is to provide our customers with exemplary customer service at the very best value possible. We are one of the most reliable and highly-recommended long-distance moving companies in Houston, TX. We do not want your move from Houston to Seattle to leave you struggling with your finances by the time you get to Seattle, WA; we know it’s an expensive place to live.

Simply Call Cross Country Movers Near You

Gather moving quotes, research the company, and make sure they are reputable before you book your move. When you’re looking to hire a reliable Houston to Seattle mover at the best value possible, it’s best to search for ‘cross country movers near me’ that way, you can find a local moving company for your long-distance move.

Local Houston Movers

While long-distance or cross-country moving is always going to be expensive, we here at Delta Moving Systems pledge to give you the lowest and most affordable rates possible. Whether our competition is fellow Houston movers or even Seattle movers, we assure you that Delta can beat their prices and their work ethic every time.

Our crew is comprised solely of incredibly dedicated, hard-working individuals with years and years of experience making moves just like the one from Houston to Seattle effortless and easy for all involved.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost to hire a professional moving company from Houston to Seattle?

Moving furniture from Houston to Seattle is estimated to cost anywhere between $2,402 and $28,262. There are lots of factors that play into this, such as how much furniture and boxes you will be moving and if you require any packing services.

Is Seattle cheaper than Houston?

The average cost of living is 46.6% higher in Seattle, WA. Your current income needs to exceed $8,588.68. Seattle employees generally earn 8.4% as much as employees in Houston.

Why are Texans moving to Seattle?

Attracted mostly by the high demand for tech jobs and engineering jobs in the Seattle area, these new people are preparing for major changes.

Is it worth moving to Seattle?

Seattle offers many opportunities for professional growth, particularly in tech industries. The city is consistently ranked among the best job centers in the United States, thanks to a highly diversified job market.

What if I Need Storage Services?

Not a problem! We understand that additional services, such as storage in transit, may be required in certain situations when moving from Houston to Seattle. Our Houston movers are more than happy to accommodate you in arranging for storage services until your home is move-in ready.

How Long Does Houston to Seattle Moving Take?

A long-distance move from Houston to Seattle typically takes between 5-14 business days, depending on the size of your shipment, traffic, and weather conditions. We take pride in our fast and reliable service, so rest assured that your belongings will arrive safely and timely.

So, Are You Moving to Seattle?

Moving from Houston to Seattle is a big decision, and it can be challenging to make the transition. Fortunately, Delta Moving Systems offers professional long-distance movers who are experienced in making cross-country moves between these two cities as easy and stress-free as possible.

We understand that moving costs can quickly add up if you’re not careful, so we strive to provide our clients with the most affordable prices on top of exemplary customer service. Whether you need packing services or storage solutions for your move from Houston to Seattle, rest assured that Delta has got you covered every step of the way! So don’t hesitate – give us a call today at (800) 484-0085!