Seattle's vibe check: 67% satisfaction rate
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Seattleites appear content but not dazzled by their city, according to a new national survey that puts the Emerald City in the middle of the pack for urban satisfaction.
Why it matters: "Satisfaction" is broad, but works as a general vibe check on how people are feeling about job opportunities, housing costs, safety and other key urban issues.
By the numbers: Seattle sits at 67% satisfaction — squarely middle-of-the-pack among major U.S. cities in a new Gensler survey of about 13,500 residents across 27 major U.S cities conducted between July and November 2024.
- That puts us well below top-tier cities like San Antonio (78%), San Diego (76%) and Raleigh (76%), which have particularly high satisfaction rates with their cities.
- But higher than Portland (60%) and San Francisco (66%), both of which fall into the report's lower tier for U.S. city satisfaction.
- Folks in Baltimore (50%) report some of the lowest satisfaction rates.
How it works: The findings are part of a broader report from the design and architecture firm's research wing, City Pulse 2025: The Magnetic City, an annual dive into how urban residents feel about a host of issues.
Between the lines: Some of the cities with relatively low satisfaction rates also have relatively high rates of young adults who say they're planning to move out, Gensler found.
Zoom in: Gensler's data suggests Seattle's modest score likely reflects nationwide pressures — worsening affordability, rising concerns about safety and traffic congestion, and the fact that U.S. cities overall receive some of their lowest marks for addressing homelessness and investing in neighborhoods.
What they're saying: "The biggest vulnerabilities for U.S. cities are cost of living and safety," Sofia Song, global leader of cities research at Gensler's Research Institute, tells Axios.
- People are "choosing cities that are more affordable and safer, and where they feel like they can actually age in place," Song adds.