How to pick a Seattle neighborhood

As a born and raised Seattleite who has moved around the city quite a few times, I’ve gotten to know the neighborhoods well. But as much as I know the ins and outs of this town, the reality is that Seattle is constantly morphing and evolving into a bigger and (mostly) better version of its former self, so what was true about a neighborhood at one point might have changed by the time you’re done reading this (joking, sort of). Seattle’s definitely on the rise, and while that’s good for the local economy, it can also cause rental prices to soar and longtime locals to relocate.

The upside of Seattle’s growth is that there are plenty of neighborhoods to choose from, but because it’s still smaller than other big cities, you won’t be overwhelmed. Narrowing your search requires looking at the whole picture: public transit options, housing affordability, the vibe/history of the neighborhood—find a balance between what’s most important to you and what you can reasonably afford.

In my case, I knew I wanted a newly constructed, yet moderately priced two or three bedroom space that wasn’t too far from the freeway, and in a neighborhood safe enough to walk my dog at night. I ended up finding a cozy, modern townhome on a maple-lined road in North Seattle/Broadview that checked all the boxes, and allows me to get downtown via bus or car in 20 to 30 minutes.

Here are some helpful tips to finding your perfect neighborhood in the Emerald City itself, or in the greater Seattle area, where there are plenty of options too.

First, consider your commute. Most people either work in downtown Seattle, which extends from Pioneer Square to South Lake Union, or the east side, which is not in Seattle proper and includes the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. If your work will take you to downtown Seattle, consider neighborhoods with sufficient public transport options, such as Greenlake, Fremont, Beacon Hill, or Northgate, which all are conveniently located near a bus or light rail line that will bring you downtown in less than an hour. And for Bellevue workers, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton all have direct bus lines which head into the main business areas—some buses to the east side also run through parts of the Seattle neighborhoods Montlake and Capitol Hill. If you’re planning to drive, be warned. Seattle is rated as No. 6 in the nation for the worst traffic, right behind L.A., just to give you an idea of how bad rush hour can be (yeah, it’s legit).

Nothing beats being able to walk to work to avoid traffic altogether. Many Amazonians live and work in South Lake Union, so they can walk to work. Belltown, Eastlake, and Lower Queen Anne are also close enough to South Lake Union to hoof it.

Then, pick whether you want to be on the east or west side. Iconic Lake Washington serves not only as a beautiful backdrop for the city, but also as a dividing point between the east and west side of the region. The west side, which includes Seattle proper, has more of a big city feel to it, complete with skyscrapers, bustling sidewalks, and overcrowded apartment buildings, while the east—which includes the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond—is more spacious and suburban.

Seattle is grungier, dirtier, and has more hipster coffee shops, while Bellevue is clean, tidy, and has more high-end retail plazas. The east is relatively calmer and quieter, while Seattle has more late-night activities in areas like Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square, and Fremont, which are known for their live concerts/shows, speakeasy bars, and craft breweries.

Part of the reason for the cultural divide between the two sides of the water is that it’s hard to get from one side to the other. To go from Seattle to Bellevue, or vice versa, you have two options (well three if you count driving around, which takes forever); take either the 520 or I-90 floating bridges. Between the two, 520 is the most direct path, but I-90 doesn’t have any tolls. Your best bet if you have to go between the two a lot is to live with easy access to I-90—I suggest Mercer Island, Mount Baker, or Bellevue’s Factoria neighborhood. Alternatively, if you choose a city like Renton in the south, or Bothell and Kenmore in the north, you can access either side without the need to cross a bridge.

Find the right fit for your personality. Each Seattle neighborhood has a different vibe, so figuring out which one you like best will help you know where you belong. Do you find happiness immersing yourself with various nationalities and ethnicities? Try Rainier Valley or parts of West Seattle. Looking for a youthful, energetic crowd that doesn’t sleep? Check out up-and-coming, industrial Georgetown, or the LGBQT and artistic headquarters that is Capitol Hill. Or do you prefer calm and quiet? Look into neighborhoods like Wedgwood or the attractive-but-pricey Leschi. You can also find out what kind of events are held in your new potential neighborhood by searching Facebook events, checking out local paper the Stranger, or asking locals via Quora or Reddit.

If you need some space, you shouldn’t have an issue. Seattle’s apartments are more spacious than other big-city rentals. Most one-bedrooms, even in the nicest parts of town, typically are at least 400 to 500 square feet, which isn’t huge, but big enough where you can have a few people over, or give your doggo some space to run around. Provided your budget is at or above about $1,200 a month, you should have some nice options at your disposal. Our Curbed Comparisons column can give you a better idea of what you can expect at certain price points, but be assured that you likely won’t be living like a hermit crab during your tenure—unless you opt for a newly trendy microstudio.

Do you want to take public transit? While we don’t have a robust subway system yet, the bus lines here are, for the most part, efficient, reliable, and run through all the major areas. For example, from Shoreline, the next city that sits north of Seattle, you can hop on a bus that runs through Greenwood, Greenlake, Phinney Ridge, and Fremont, and still ends up in downtown in less than an hour. If you can’t find a spot close enough to walk to a station, consider looking for a place near a park-and-ride, like the ones in Factoria, Mountlake Terrace, or Renton.

As for the light rail, the main route runs from Sea-Tac airport all the way to the University of Washington and stops at 13 main points along the way, including Tukwila, Rainier Beach, Sodo, and downtown. An expansion to Northgate will be complete in a few years, and there are more expansion projects on the way.

For added convenience, get yourself an ORCA pass—an electronic pass card that works on buses, trains, ferries, and light rail. Prices vary based on your usage and travel distance, but range from $90 to $200 a month.

If you’ll be driving, consider how far you’ll be from the freeway. Due to its small footprint and narrow shape, Seattle doesn’t have a lot of intersecting highways (unlike, say, L.A.). There’s only one major north-to-south interstate on each side of the lake (I-5 if you’re in Seattle, I-405 if you’re on the east side), and you’ll want to be close to it if you value being able to drive around the city quickly. Some of the more trendy neighborhoods like Ballard might sound nice on paper, but it will take you 20 minutes to get on the freeway from there. West Seattle is another cool neighborhood known for its dive-y pubs and open flea markets, but the trek across the West Seattle bridge to get to the freeway can be brutal.

Are you a frequent flyer? If so, you may want to look in to places closer to the airport, or at least on the light rail path, which will take you directly to the Sea-Tac stop. Tukwila is the closest neighborhood to the airport, and is also accessible by light rail. Other options on the light rail route are Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, and Hillman City. Skyway, Renton, and Burien are also nearby, but don’t have light rail stations.

Paine Field in Everett recently started offering commercial flights, making it a viable airport for residents on the north end of the region, in neighborhoods such as Marysville, Lynnwood, and Mill Creek. But it only features a limited amount of flights, so be sure to check its website to see which cities it connects to if you’re thinking about moving to a home near this area.

Yes, your neighborhood can be walkable. There are many neighborhoods where you can easily stroll to a coffee shop, eatery, or boutique. Downtown is one, provided you don’t mind a steep hill here or there (and limited grocery store options). Beyond that, the most pedestrian-friendly areas include the International District, Pioneer Square, and First Hill. Other areas farther from the city center, like Ravenna and Phinney Ridge, are becoming more walkable, and accessible bike lanes make it easy to get downtown from these areas as well.

If you’d prefer to walk in nature, pick a neighborhood with easy access to our countless trails and nature walks. The massive Discovery Park sits right in the heart of Magnolia, and the always Instagrammable Washington Arboretum sits across from the UW campus in Madison Valley. Farther east, Marymoor Park in Redmond offers plenty of walking trails, while also serving as a popular outdoor music venue. Get the latest from Curbed Seattle’s hiking guides.

How much noise can you handle? Sometimes a little ambient noise can be soothing, whether it comes from a semi-busy street, foot traffic, or your overly enthusiastic neighbors. However, if you’re like me and prefer some peace at the end of the night, you’ll want to find a quieter neighborhood like Broadview, Lake City, or Mercer Island. If you prefer lively crowds and a bustling late-night scene, try Belltown, Capitol Hill, and the University District.

Seattle isn’t one big forest, but we have some great parks. The Seattle Parks and Recreation department manages over 485 parks, which make up about 12 percent of the city’s landscape. So for fellow pet-owners or public park enthusiasts, you may want to consider being in an area like Magnolia for Discovery Park, Sand Point for its pup-friendly Magnuson Park, Mountlake for the Arboretum, or Seward Park for the park of the same name. In the northern part of the city, Green Lake is one of the go-tos for park lovers. The park there, Green Lake Park, is centrally located in the neighborhood and has a great walking, running, and biking path that circles around the lake.

We have plenty of beaches, too—although if you’re looking for a sandy oasis, they’re few and far between. If you’re looking for a more traditional beach for, say, a volleyball tournament, there’s Golden Gardens in Ballard and Alki Beach in West Seattle, but if you don’t mind a few rocks, there are plenty of places to lounge or take a dip along the Puget Sound to the west or Lake Washington to the east (and many of these parks have grassy lawns so you don’t have to sit down on the barnacles).

Take a test run and tour around the neighborhood first. You never really know what you’re getting into until you’re in it. Seattle has no shortage of houses that look really nice in photos, but are in downtrodden areas. If you can’t make it to check out the neighborhood in person, Walk Score and real-estate sites can help you get a better idea of what it’s like. Another surprisingly good resource can be Google maps. By enabling you to see bird’s-eye and street-level views of the area, you can get somewhat of a good idea of the neighborhood as a whole. It might not be 100 percent accurate or up to date, but it can at least give you an overview.

Source: Curbed.com

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