The Top 5 Questions Every California Tech Worker Asks About Moving to Seattle
The Top 5 Questions Every California Tech Worker Asks About Moving to Seattle
Rain, the Seattle Freeze, which suburb, the dark winters, and the traffic. I get these five questions constantly, and here's my honest take on every one of them.
What California Tech Workers Ask Me Most
- Does it really rain every day? No. Seattle gets roughly 150 rainy days a year but only about 38 to 39 inches of total rainfall, less than many East Coast cities, per NOAA climate data.
- Is the Seattle Freeze real? Yes, but it's not unfriendliness. It just takes longer to build friendships here.
- Where should I live for my company? Depends entirely on the employer and your lifestyle. I've got a dedicated guide for Amazon, Microsoft, and Google employees, and I'm happy to talk through anywhere else.
- What do people do in the dark winter months? Vitamin D daily and a January trip somewhere sunny. That combination gets most people through.
- How bad is the traffic really? Bad by national standards, but nothing compared to Southern California. Seattle ranked 7th worst for congestion nationally in 2025, well behind Los Angeles and San Francisco, per the TomTom Traffic Index.
Let's start with the question every Californian asks first, and work through the other four right behind it. I get some version of these five questions on nearly every relocation call I take, and I'd rather give you the honest version now than let you find out the hard way after the moving truck shows up.
Does It Really Rain Every Day?
Here's what I would say about that. The local answer is always yes, because we don't want you to know the secret. Whispers: this place is actually beautiful, and the rain reputation is doing a lot of work to keep it that way.
The real answer is more nuanced. Seattle averages around 150 rainy days a year, but only about 38 to 39 inches of total rainfall, according to NOAA climate data, which is actually less total rain than cities like New York, Boston, or Miami. What Seattle has is frequent, light, gray drizzle rather than the dramatic downpours you might picture. It rains a lot. It doesn't pour a lot. That distinction matters more than people expect.
Is the Seattle Freeze Real?
Number two, and this one comes up constantly from single people relocating on their own: is the Seattle Freeze real? Again, yes. People here do not mean to be cold, and they are almost never unfriendly. It just takes time to actually get to know people in this city. You will find your people once you put yourself out there and engage in activities, whether that's a recreational sports league, a hobby group, or just showing up to the same coffee shop enough times that the regulars start to recognize you.
The Freeze thaws fastest through repetition, not big introductions. Pick two or three regular spots or activities and keep showing up. Familiarity does more here than networking events ever will.
Where Should I Live for My Company?
Third question, and it's the one I can actually give you a direct answer to. If your company is Amazon, Microsoft, or Google, I've already written the full breakdown of where to live based on your commute and lifestyle in Relocating to the Seattle Area for Amazon, Microsoft, or Google? Here's Where to Actually Live. If it's none of those three, just ask me directly. I'm happy to talk through suburbs, cities, commutes, and lifestyle fit to match your specific situation, and if you're coming from California specifically, I've written more broadly on that transition in A California Tech Worker's Guide to Relocating to the Greater Seattle Area.
Here's what I've noticed sitting across the table from Californians moving here for tech jobs. They usually know their offer letter cold and their target neighborhood not at all. That's backwards, and it's an easy fix. I've been where you are, having relocated to the Bothell area myself, and my job is to meet you exactly where you are and translate a company name and a salary into a short list of neighborhoods that actually fit how you want to live.
And that's amazing, honestly, because once you know the neighborhood, the rest is setting up your future. This should be a great ride.
What Do People Do in the Dark Days of Winter?
Fourth question, and my advice here is simple: take vitamin D every single day, and plan a trip somewhere warm and sunny sometime in January. That combination gets most people through the darkest stretch of a Seattle winter. December and January bring some of the shortest daylight hours you'll experience outside of a much higher latitude, and it catches a lot of Southern California transplants off guard the first year. The second year, most people have a system. That's usually it.
How Bad Is the Traffic, Really?
Fifth question, and I can answer this one from direct personal experience since I came from Southern California myself. It's genuinely nothing compared to that. People here will complain about it, and by national standards they're not wrong. Seattle ranked 7th worst in the country for traffic congestion in 2025 according to the TomTom Traffic Index, with a separate ranking from the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard placing it 10th worst nationally that same year. But Los Angeles topped the TomTom list as the single most congested city in the country, and San Francisco ranked ahead of Seattle too. It can take a little over an hour to get somewhere during rush hour here. It's never as bad as what I dealt with daily in Southern California.
Coming From California and Still Have Questions?
I'm sure you've got more than five. That's exactly what I'm here for: to connect, discover, and respond.
Talk to Aaron Read: Best Suburbs for Remote WorkersI'm sure you've got more questions than these five as you learn more about the area, and honestly, most people do. That's exactly what I'm here for: to connect, discover, and respond. If cost of living is part of what's keeping you up at night before the move, I've also broken that down specifically for the Bothell area in The Real Cost of Living in Bothell, WA.
Seattle rains often but not hard, the Freeze is real but temporary, where you should live depends entirely on your employer and your lifestyle, winter takes a vitamin D routine and a January escape plan, and the traffic is genuinely mild compared to Southern California despite ranking among the more congested U.S. cities nationally. None of it is a reason to skip the move. It's just what to actually expect once you get here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it really rain every day in Seattle?
No, it does not rain every day in Seattle, though the city does see frequent light rain. Seattle averages roughly 150 rainy days a year but only about 38 to 39 inches of total annual rainfall, according to NOAA climate data, which is less total rainfall than many cities on the East Coast. The rain tends to be light and drizzly rather than heavy downpours.
Is the Seattle Freeze real?
Yes, the Seattle Freeze is a real social phenomenon, though it reflects reserved friendliness rather than unfriendliness. Newcomers often find it takes longer than expected to build close friendships in Seattle. Consistently showing up to the same activities, groups, or spots tends to break through it faster than one-off social events.
Where should I live in Seattle if I work for a tech company?
Where to live depends heavily on which company you work for and your commute preferences. Amazon and Google employees typically look at Seattle proper or the Eastside depending on their office location, while Microsoft employees often look at Redmond, Kirkland, or Bellevue. A detailed neighborhood breakdown by employer is available in our relocation guide for Amazon, Microsoft, and Google employees, and individual guidance is available for any other employer.
How do people deal with Seattle's dark winters?
Most longtime Seattle residents manage the dark winter months with a daily vitamin D routine and by planning a trip somewhere sunny in January. December and January bring some of the shortest daylight hours many California transplants have experienced, and having a specific routine and an escape plan tends to make the adjustment easier.
Is Seattle traffic worse than California traffic?
No, Seattle traffic is generally considered less severe than traffic in major California cities. Seattle ranked 7th worst nationally for traffic congestion in 2025 according to the TomTom Traffic Index, while Los Angeles ranked worst in the country and San Francisco also ranked ahead of Seattle. Rush hour delays in Seattle can add up to a little over an hour to a commute, but it is generally milder than Southern California traffic.
Have More Questions About Moving to Seattle?
Whether it's your fifth question or your fiftieth, I'm here to connect, discover, and respond. Let's talk through what your move actually looks like.
Talk to Aaron
