Moving from Austin, TX, to Seattle, WA

Is Austin or Seattle bigger? 

When you’re looking to move from Austin to Seattle, you might wonder which city has more people. Well, it depends on which numbers you look at. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Seattle’s city population of around 737,000 is smaller than Austin’s 974,000.  

But when you look at the metro populations, you’ll find that Seattle (4.02 million) is significantly larger than Austin (2.4 million). Keep reading to learn what else to expect when you leave the “Keep Austin Weird” capital city of Texas for the Emerald City. 

Bring your umbrella for Seattle life

Don’t forget to pack your umbrella when you leave Texas. One of Seattle’s nicknames is “Rain City” since it rains about 150 days each year with an average of 39 inches annually. It’s not much more than Austin’s yearly average of just over 35 inches, but while Seattle’s rainfall is spread throughout the year, most of Austin’s rain falls in May, June and October.  

You can expect milder summers in Washington State, with temperatures rarely rising above 88 degrees in Seattle (compared to highs sometimes exceeding 100 degrees in Austin). Winters are a bit colder, wetter and longer in Seattle.  

All about music and the arts

Austin might be the “Live Music Capital of the World,” but Seattle doesn’t sleep on the tunes. The birthplace of grunge rock of the early 1990s, Seattle also has a significant history with jazz — dating back to 1918! And you’ll find that the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet are all active in the arts scene.  

Many theatrical production companies in the city perform in live theatre venues, and Seattle often sends poetry champs to the National Poetry Slam each year. Celebrating film is important in the city with the 24-Day Seattle International Film Festival.  

Things to see in Seattle 

There are plenty of things to do in Seattle to keep you busy, and the city’s robust public transportation system can get you there if you’d rather not navigate the traffic. You won’t want to miss these attractions: 

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass 
  • Kerry Park 
  • Museum of History & Industry 
  • Museum of Pop Culture 
  • Pike Place Market 
  • Seattle Aquarium 
  • Seattle Great Wheel 
  • Space Needle 
  • The Museum of Flight 
  • Woodland Park Zoo 
     

Use U-Pack for a stress-free move to Seattle

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers and more than 25 years of experience. With locations near Austin and Seattle, we’re ready to help with your long-distance move. We’re a DIY-moving service where you handle packing, loading and unloading, and then we move your belongings. Get a free online quote today, or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.​​​​​​​