You sound like me! I am single and work in tech, had been in Seattle and moved back home with Covid. I would live in Boston or NYC but the savings is too much with no income tax here. The ONLY reasonable answer is Portsmouth. It’s small but pretty nice and has some nightlife. Dating scene is not great. Certainly don’t expect NYC lol. I’m trying to figure out longer term if I just bite the bullet on taxes but it’s tough to swallow.

QA is nice

Lots of nice neighborhoods for sure. SLU (going by your username) wouldn’t be on my list though. It’s gotten way nicer but it’s really just a glorified Amazon campus with no soul. This is coming from someone who worked there for multiple years.

And for context I lived in what was the CHOP zone during Covid and had to experience ridiculous inaction by the city leaders that put me in danger every day when they pulled the police. That would never ever happen in Boston.

Seattle has a homeless and drug problem throughout the urban areas of city, far worse than Boston. To sweep that under the rug is not painting a fair picture.

The Summer is absolutely gorgeous, way better than the East Coast. The Winter on the other hand is terrible for anyone that likes the sun. The hiking and outdoors stuff is incredible. Plenty of stuff has AC. Your other points are valid.

Do NOT live downtown if you move there

Via Tribunali is incredible

I lived in both and recently left Seattle. Lots to love but downtown and Cap Hill have turned into cesspools since Covid. Was sad to see visiting last month. The city politics in Seattle are completely fucked.