Seattle Culture
Seattle’s Urban Identity Index
Surveys reveal the character of our city and state
By Rob Smith January 3, 2025
Diana Polk from WalletHub is nothing if not persistent.
The communications director of the Miami-based personal finance website has flooded my inbox no fewer than 100 times the past six months with results from company surveys that are seemingly as numerous as stars in the sky. Many illustrate the ethos and culture of The Evergreen State. When taken as a whole, they paint a compelling picture of the widespread influence of the place we call home.
Consider these 10 rankings. There are many more:
- Washington is the 10th-best state to have a baby, based on factors including infant mortality rate and parental leave policies.
- Seattle was the third-best city for Christmas, based on items including food banks and giving per capita, and the number of affordable, high-quality restaurants.
- If you’re single and looking, good news: The city’s dating scene is the third-best in the United States, thanks in no small part to mobile and online dating opportunities.
- We like having a good time, ranking No. 19 for fun based on festivals, restaurants, and the number of attractions, among other amenities. Despite this, we’re ranked very low in terms of being a city of sin.
- The news can’t all be good. Unfortunately, residents here have debt. Lots of it. We rank No. 5 for the largest debt increases, as the average Washington household owes $234,000.
- Employers here have no problems filling open positions, as the state has the third-smallest hiring struggle in the U.S.
- We are THE most energy-efficient state (think both home energy and transportation).
- We practice sustainability, ranking as the sixth-greenest city in America.
- Seattle is the eighth-best foodie city, based on craft breweries and wineries per capita, among other data points.
- We manage credit well, ranking No. 1 for most diligent use of credit cards.
Unlike flimsy surveys that rely on meaningless Google keyword searches that serve merely as shallow vehicles for publicity, WalletHub reports tend to be credible and well-researched. WalletHub is a personal finance company that’s been featured in national media outlets including CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. The company was founded in 2013.
Keep the info coming, Diana!
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