Seattle is crowded; here's where everyone is coming from Three homes in North Seattle that are great for Seattle newbies

The first home, 1316 N. 122nd St., is listed for $439,950. The four bedroom, three bathroom home is in Haller Lake. The 1,020 square-foot home has a large fenced yard and RV parking. You can see the full listing here. less The first home, 1316 N. 122nd St., is listed for $439,950. The four bedroom, three bathroom home is in Haller Lake. The 1,020 square-foot home has a large fenced yard and RV parking. You can see the full ... more Photo: Teresa Numrich, Fireside Homes Real Estate LLC Photo: Teresa Numrich, Fireside Homes Real Estate LLC Image 1 of / 81 Caption Close Seattle is crowded; here's where everyone is coming from 1 / 81 Back to Gallery

It's no secret that Seattle is experiencing unprecedented growth. What's less clear is where all those new folks are coming from.

Findings from Austin, Texas-based storage technology company SpareFoot found that the majority of new Seattleites are coming from California, but not necessarily from the Bay Area as many assume. The largest influx of new residents is coming from Los Angeles County, followed by Maricopa County in Arizona (Phoenix), San Diego County, Multnomah County in Oregon (Portland) and Cook County in Illinois (Chicago). Data were collected by the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2009-13 American Community Survey.

As of 2015, the Seattle metropolitan area, which includes Tacoma and Bellevue, has an estimated population of 3.7 million people. It is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

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The effects of newcomers are felt by residents in the form of increasingly congested traffic, rising rents and a shifting Seattle skyline. A report by the Downtown Seattle Association found that a new construction project has broken ground every week since the beginning of the year, and at least 8,661 more residential units are set to be completed this year.

While new talent from elsewhere can be good for driving innovation and the local economy, it makes it tough to afford living in the city center. The current median list price for a two-bedroom Seattle home is $629,000, according to Redfin. That's an increase of just over 18 percent from May of last year.

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With that said, prices vary, depending on where in the city you're looking. The markets in North and South Seattle tend to be less competitive and have lower median list prices, making it easier for newcomers to break into a market that's increasingly flooded with all-cash offers.

North Seattle's Haller Lake can be a good place for newbies to start their search. The median list price for two-bedroom Haller Lake homes is $308,000, according to Redfin figures. These homes range from $439,950 to $574,950. Scroll through the slideshow above to take a tour of each.