The Best Neighborhoods in Seattle to Buy a Home

This article was originally published on October 26, 2019. It was updated on June 26, 2024.

Thinking about moving to Seattle, Washington? Let us be your neighborhood guide.

At the very mention of Seattle, many people think of beautiful sights with peaceful nature. Or maybe you think of the city life with arts, culture, cool architecture like the Space Needle. Or maybe even all of the professional opportunities with some of the most influential tech giants located nearby. Of course, the coffee, food, and music culture might pique your interest as well.

Whatever it is that's drawing you to Seattle, we want to help you find a home that's in the neighborhood best suited to your lifestyle.

That's why we’ve put together a guide to the best neighborhoods in Seattle to buy a home. 

We’ll paint the picture of what it's like in our favorite neighborhoods in Seattle to help you decide where you could see yourself and your family.

Keep reading to get to know Seattle and find out which neighborhood is best for you!

Best Neighborhoods for Professionals

Seattle is home to many large companies and offers plenty of opportunities for both young professionals entering their careers and experienced professionals looking for the next chapter. These neighborhoods are perfect for either.

West Seattle

No lifestyle should be all work and no play. And you'll find plenty to do in the vibrant neighborhood of West Seattle. 

West Seattle is located west of the Duwamish River and extends all the way to Puget Sound. You can access it easily from downtown and it's close to the Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport, making this a convenient location for frequent travelers.

If you're looking for one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, West Seattle will keep you satisfied. The neighborhood also hosts a year-round farmer's market and many summer festivals, making it fun for the whole family. To top it off, West Seattle features Alki Beach where you can enjoy fun in the sun and a big kite surfing and parasailing community.

West Seattle has townhouses and waterfront properties, so if you want a view of the water but still live in a quieter neighborhood with easy access to the city, be sure to check this area out in your home search.

South Lake Union

South Lake Union is a trendy neighborhood known for being a tech hub with Amazon, Microsoft, and Google offices nearby. New tech start-ups are popping up all of the time because of the strong culture of entrepreneurship and supportive tech ecosystem. This makes South Lake Union an excellent place for young professionals to launch a career.

Young professionals also love this area because of the lively nightlife, food trucks, and unique eateries. There are new spaces and apartment buildings, but also old warehouses turned into loft-style homes and apartments. The neighborhood is known for being eco-friendly, focusing on upcycling and reusing older spaces, alongside rehabbed industrial areas.

Take the South Lake Union Streetcar between downtown Seattle and SLU or visit the Center for Wooden Boats where you can learn to carve your own boat, paddle a dragon boat, or sail.

Fremont

Fremont is an eclectic and lively Bohemian neighborhood with excellent opportunities for career-driven individuals. High-tech companies including Adobe and Google all have offices in the Fremont neighborhood, making it a perfect place to live and work.

For young professionals, Fremont has its own selection of craft breweries, funky shops, and unique bars and restaurants. For the professionals with families looking for the best of both worlds, Fremont has some excellent schools and a public library.

Be sure to check out the Fremont Troll, one of the most famous landmarks in Seattle. The Fremont troll is located under the Aurora Bridge and is an 18-foot-tall troll sculpture holding a full-size Volkswagen beetle in its hand.

Best Neighborhoods for Entertainment

Seattle is a hub of excitement with an electrifying nightlife, top-notch restaurants, unique local businesses, and endless entertainment options. 

Whether you're a foodie, a night owl, or someone who loves exploring vibrant local scenes, Seattle’s neighborhoods have something to offer.

These neighborhoods strike the perfect balance between community and easy access to downtown, providing lively atmospheres and convenient commutes.

Capitol Hill

If you're looking for historic homes, amazing restaurants, theater, a delicious cup of coffee, bars, street parties, and a farmer's market, Capitol Hill is for you. 

Not only was it named one of the best hipster neighborhoods in the U.S. not too long ago, it's very walkable, has the highest number of coffee shops per capita among all the neighborhoods on the list, and is extremely LGBTQ+-friendly. 

Plus, the neighborhood borders the Central District of Seattle for big city life. Capitol Hill has an established gay community with a famously large Pride Parade every year and many LGBTQ+ businesses.

Be sure to check out the Japanese Garden, the Washington Park Arboretum, and if you're there in July, enjoy the Capitol Hill block party. If you are looking for activities, cool bars and restaurants, all housed in a diverse neighborhood, Capitol Hill is the place for you.

Ballard

In the 1800s, Ballard was a salmon fishing village that was considered the center of the Scandinavian community in Seattle. As one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods, it still celebrates its historical origins and Nordic culture, but it's more of a hipster neighborhood these days. Think craft breweries, restaurants that feature unique salmon dishes, boutique shops, and even a beach at Golden Gardens Park.

Check out the Ballard Locks and the salmon ladder for some waterfront entertainment. The locks allow boats to move between the canal and Puget Sound, and the salmon ladder assists the salmon in migrating and swimming upstream. This will be a hit for kids and adults alike.

Downtown Seattle

Are you looking for city living, with views of Elliot Bay and no need for a car? Consider Downtown Seattle. 

If a high-rise condo is your thing, Downtown Seattle is for you. In the city center, you'll find the world-famous Pike Place Market, unique restaurants and bars, boutiques, and the central waterfront, featuring a giant Ferris wheel, and the Seattle Aquarium. It all adds up to make the downtown core an exciting place to live.

Living in the Central District of Seattle is especially exciting for young professionals looking to embrace big city life. The city center offers prominent art galleries, a vibrant cultural scene, and attractions like the Seattle Art Museum and the symphony at Benaroya Hall. Plus, you can easily take a ferry ride from the Seattle Pier, adding to the appeal of this dynamic area.

Best Neighborhoods for Families

Choosing the right neighborhood for your family is a big decision. You need to consider several factors, from finding excellent schools and nearby amenities to becoming part of a welcoming community. 

To help you in this important choice, here are our top recommendations for families looking for the perfect home in Seattle:

Queen Anne

The Queen Anne neighborhood is located northwest of downtown. It's a great option for families. There are tons of parks, playgrounds, and activities for kids like the Seattle Children's Museum.

The Queen Anne neighborhood also sits on the highest named hill in the city and is divided into East and West Queen Anne, Upper Queen Anne, and Lower Queen Anne. Upper Queen Anne is home to Seattle Pacific University while East and West Queen Anne are popular residential areas.

The neighborhood gets its name from the architecture of the homes there. This area was a popular spot for affluent families in Seattle to build beautiful single family homes. Many were built in the Queen Anne architectural style. These homes have asymmetrical facades, columns, gables, spindle work, chimneys, and balustrades.

Green Lake

Green Lake is named for—you guessed it—a lake that is green (unfortunately not made for swimming). Green Lake has an almost three-mile paved path for walking, running, or biking. If water activities are your thing, you can rent paddle boats and kayaks as well.

Green Lake is a quiet neighborhood, perfect for young families. It's located far enough outside of downtown to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still close enough that you can use the tunnel to get downtown. There are lots of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, so although it's out of the city, it still provides an urban feel.

If you're a young professional, college student, or family, Green Lake is a great choice for you.

Wallingford

Wallingford is located at the edge of Green Lake, and it’s a popular residential neighborhood for families. Full of sidewalk cafes, restaurants, and eclectic shops for entertainment, Wallingford is a great choice for a family. It also has a range of home styles from Queen Anne to Craftsman, with everything in between.

Not to be outdone by other neighborhoods, Wallingford has the 90-acre Woodland Park, which includes a zoo, mini-golf course, picnic area, and outdoor trails.

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood located just southeast of downtown Seattle. Known for its rich cultural diversity and strong community spirit, Beacon Hill offers a unique blend of residential options, from charming older homes to modern apartments. 

The neighborhood features stunning views of downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, and the Olympic Mountains, thanks to its elevated location. Residents enjoy ample green spaces, including Jefferson Park, which provides golf courses, tennis courts, playgrounds, and panoramic views. 

Overall, Beacon Hill offers a balanced lifestyle with convenient urban amenities and a peaceful, community-focused environment.

Best Neighborhoods for Outdoor-Lovers

Outdoor activities are a staple of Seattle life, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts. With its abundance of parks, vibrant communities, and the stunning backdrop of Lake Washington, Seattle offers an array of neighborhoods perfect for those who love the great outdoors. 

Explore the best neighborhoods in Seattle for outdoor lovers below and find your ideal place to connect with nature and neighbors alike.

Woodridge

Woodridge is actually located in Bellevue, about 10 miles east of Seattle. This family friendly neighborhood has excellent schools, midcentury homes, and reasonable prices compared to many other home prices in other parts of Seattle.

If nature and hiking appeal to you, the Woodridge Open Space, a 20-acre area of forest land with trails, streams, and a loop around the area is a must-see spot.

Ravenna

Ravenna is in northeastern Seattle and is named after Ravenna, Italy. 

Ravenna is like Woodridge, in that it's quiet and slightly slower-paced, but still close enough to the city that you can easily access it and enjoy all of the amenities that come with an urban environment.

Most of Ravenna’s historic homes were built in the early half of the 20th century—think Tudor cottages and Craftsman bungalows, characterized by large covered porches, wood siding, and eaves that protect the siding from rain.

Like most of the other Seattle neighborhoods on our list, Ravenna also has a little taste of wilderness, with a half-mile long ravine called Ravenna Park. After a hike, check out some of the independent shops and boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and the original Seattle Whole Foods store.

Columbia City & Rainier Valley

Columbia City and Rainier Valley are vibrant, culturally rich neighborhoods filled with nature in the southeastern Seattle area. 

Columbia City is known for its historic charm, featuring preserved buildings, a lively arts scene, and a variety of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants. The neighborhood’s walkable streets, popular farmers market, and numerous community events foster a welcoming atmosphere and strong local pride. 

Both neighborhoods are well-connected by public transportation, making commuting easy and reinforcing their strong community spirit through active neighborhood associations and frequent cultural events.

Bonus: Something for Everyone

Northgate

Northgate is one of the largest neighborhoods in Seattle and features four smaller neighborhoods: Maple Leaf, North College Park, Pinehurst, and Haller Lake. Northgate is home to the world's first shopping mall, the Northgate Mall, which is the main center of activity in this neighborhood, with all the amenities you'd expect near a mall.

Haller Lake is a hidden gem in the Northgate neighborhood, with only one public access road leading to water. Haller Lake is also home to the only granite curling clubs in the area, so if you've seen curling at the Olympics and were intrigued, check out the Granite Curling Club.

Homes in Haller Lake are a mix of mid century homes and contemporary newer builds built in the 21st century. It's not the most expensive neighborhood in Seattle (nor is it the cheapest), but there are many different options depending on what you're looking for.

Looking for The Perfect Seattle Neighborhood?

Seattle is a city with a lot of charm and something for everyone, from high rises downtown to quiet residential neighborhoods. When choosing to live in Seattle, it all comes down to where you want to come home to every day. 

The best way to decide where to live is to research and visit: Narrow down your neighborhoods and spend some time in them to see if it's somewhere you'd like to live.

As area experts, Seattle’s Mortgage Broker can help you navigate which neighborhoods will fit your needs and help you finance your Seattle dream home. 

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