Are you moving to Redmond, Washington sometime in the next few weeks or months? If so, good for you! Redmond is a lovely city that gets high marks for practically everything, including public schools, jobs, housing, nightlife, commute times, and much more. Indeed, Redmond is one of the highest-rated towns in all of Washington and a dream for most people who live here. To find out more before moving to Redmond, WA, read on! The information below will tell you about the town and why it’s such a popular place!
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Relocating to Redmond, WA
If you’re relocating to Redmond, you’re going to need to do something most people genuinely hate; move all your stuff. The truth is, moving is stressful, difficult, dangerous, and a lot of hard work, especially if you do all the moving. That’s why we recommend hiring a mover if you’re moving to Redmond from out of state. Whether you do or not is up to you. Either way, below is a list of everything you need to do when you move to Redmond, Washington.
- Find and hire a mover
- Lock your moving dates in place with your mover
- Pack your things (if you don’t hire a mover)
- Rent a moving truck (if you don’t hire a mover)
- Gather all important paperwork, like school transcripts, marriage and divorce papers, banking information, vehicle titles, etc. (Take that stuff with you when possible.)
- Sell your home
- Find a home in Redmond
- Disconnect utilities in your existing home and connect them in your new Redmond home
What are the Best Neighborhoods in Redmond?
Like all American cities, Redmond has quite a few distinct areas and communities, some better than others. That’s why, when moving here, we suggest finding storage first so that, when you arrive, you can store your things safely while you house-hunt. But, whether you need storage or not, the best neighborhoods in Redmond are still going to be the same, including:
- Education Hill
- Overlake
- Sammamish Valley
- Downtown Redmond
- Southeast Redmond
- Grass Lawn
- Norkirk
- Bear Creek
- Rose Hill
- North Redmond
Pros and Cons of Moving to Redmond, WA
As with any American city, there are some pros and cons when it comes to living in Redmond. Below is a list of the pros and cons to give you an unbiased idea of what it’s like moving to Redmond, WA.
Pros of Moving to Redmond
- The state of Washington has no income taxes
- The city is highly diverse and well educated
- There’s a very low risk of tornadoes, wildfires, and floods
- Government spending in the city is high
- The opportunity for outdoor adventures is high
- Crime and safety figures are low
- The public schools are excellent
- The nightlife in Redmond is electric
- The commuting time in the city is short
- The city is rated as being great for families
Cons of Moving to Redmond
- Redmond has high sales and property taxes
- Substance abuse in the city is very high
- The weather is very cold for a good part of the year
- Fewer people own their homes
- Humidity in the spring and summer is unbearable
- The cost of living is nearly double the national average (!!)
- Housing costs are nearly 4-times the national average
What is the Cost of Living like in Redmond?
Sadly, the cost of living in Redmond, WA is quite high. There are a few reasons for this, including very high home prices as well as high transportation and miscellaneous costs. That gives the city a cost index of 193.3, which is 93% higher than the national average (almost double it!). That’s a hard pill to swallow for many Americans and one of the reasons that so few folks here own their home. Take a look below for all 8 of the major cost indices in Redmond (provided by Best Places) and see for yourself. Please note that the national average is 100, so above that is higher, and below 100 is lower than the national average for that cost index.
- Overall – 193.3
- Housing – 380.5 (very high)
- Median Home Value – $1,110,000 (The national average is $291,700)
- Healthcare – 88.2
- Groceries – 109.5
- Utilities – 71.3 (fantastic)
- Transportation – 127.9
- Miscellaneous costs – 150.6 (very high)
What is Redmond, WA, Known For?
You might be surprised to learn that Redmond, W, is well-known as a haven for biotech and other high-tech companies, including Nintendo, Microsoft, AT&T, and others. (That’s one reason why housing prices are so high.) Redmond has also become well-known as the “Bicycle Capital of the Northwest” because of all the biking done here as well as having the only velodrome in the entire state of Washington.
Take Care of Your Storage Needs with Northwest Self Storage
If you’re on your way to Redmond or coming to live here soon, Northwest Self Storage has everything you need to store your things safely and securely when you arrive. For example, Northwest sells moving supplies like boxes, paper, tape, and bubble wrap. We also have storage units that double as office spaces and car storage in some of our storage locations.
You can easily reserve a storage unit online or visit your local Northwest Self Storage facility and speak with the on-site manager. They can answer all your questions and get your Redmond storage unit set up for you! If the PNW life is what you’re after, we wish you all the best with your move to Redmond, WA! Call Northwest Self Storage when you arrive and let us take care of all your storage needs!