As newcomers flock to Washington, native residents move away

SEATTLE – As more out-of-state residents flock to Seattle, the locals are leaving.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, last year was the first time in at least a decade when the number of native-born Washington residents in King County declined, the Seattle Times reported.

Between 2014 and 2015, the number of Washington natives in King County fell by more than 17,000 – a 2 percent drop. Washington-born residents make up 40 percent of King County’s population.

“When we lived in Seattle, money was a huge stress,” Rachael Sartor said. “It felt like we’d have to live above our means to have the kind of house that we wanted.”

Sartor and her husband moved to Austin, Texas, in 2014 after looking for housing in Seattle and failing. She said that since moving she and her husband have been able to be less financially stressed.

The data suggests that longtime residents are leaving and being replaced by people from out of state or out of the country.

Adam Rio, who moved to Seattle from New York City six months ago, said he’s happy to have made the move. He spent much of his summer taking camping and hiking trips and exploring the city.

“I can afford to have a car here, whereas that wasn’t even an option in New York,” he said. “I feel like almost everything is easier here.”

Sartor, who left Seattle, is equally excited about her relocation to Texas.

“We’re not worrying about money down here. We can put money in savings for our kids’ college and things like that.”