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A March 2022 poll found that 67% of surveyed Seattle registered voters had actively considered moving out of the city. That is a historical result—not a current estimate of Seattle residents or a count of people who moved. In the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s later survey waves, the share was 46% in May 2026.
What did the 67% Seattle figure measure?
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce commissioned EMC Research to conduct 700 text-to-web and phone interviews with registered voters in March 2022. The Chamber reported a 3.9% margin of error. The poll asked: “Have you actively considered moving out of Seattle? (IF YES) And are you still actively considering moving out of Seattle?” The Chamber’s April 2022 release describes the survey.
The 67% answered yes to having actively considered leaving. It does not mean that 67% had made a plan, were about to move, or had actually left. The follow-up question about whether someone was still considering a move is a separate measure, asked only of people who had considered it.
How has the share changed since 2022?
The Chamber’s later survey waves report a lower share saying they had considered moving. These are separate surveys, not repeated interviews with the same individuals.
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| Survey wave | Share who had considered moving | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | 67% of surveyed registered voters | Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 2022 |
| April 2025 | 52% | Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Fall 2025 report |
| September 2025 | 55% | Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Fall 2025 report |
| May 2026 | 46% | Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Spring 2026 report |
In the May 2026 chart, 46% is the share who had considered moving. A separate follow-up measure says 46% of those who had previously considered it were still actively considering a move. That second 46% has a conditional base; it is not the share of all voters still considering leaving.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What reasons did respondents give?
Among respondents who had considered moving in the 2022 poll, the reported main reasons were cost of living or housing (35%), public safety or crime (29%), homelessness (12%), and government or politics (9%). These figures describe stated reasons for considering a move, not reasons verified among people who relocated. GeekWire’s April 2022 report summarizes the reasons.
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How should readers interpret the poll?
- It was a voter poll, not a census of all Seattle residents. The surveyed population was registered voters, and the poll was commissioned by a business organization.
- Consideration is not relocation. The result does not measure completed moves, firm plans, or future population loss.
- The later percentages are snapshots from different waves. They show how responses varied over time, not how the same people changed their minds.
- Some methodological details are not established in the cited release. The Chamber reports the sample size, field month, interview modes, and margin of error for 2022; additional weighting details are not stated there.
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