The 9 Best Neighborhoods to Live in Seattle

Seattle is known for various things, a great coffee culture–hello Starbucks and artisan coffee shops–a booming job market with over two Fortune 500 companies HQ-ing–including giants like Amazon and Microsoft–and a hipster vibe that's infused with waterfront fun.

Whether you want to experience a different lifestyle than in a typical US city, a progressive city focused on sustainability, or you just want to have one of the country's most incredible cups of joe, Seattle's waiting for you.

However, this city filled with mountains, grunge music, and many waterfront destinations can be tricky to navigate. As with everything, when it comes to moving to a new city, location, location, location is king. You'll need to know which area has the right life-work balance, the coffee-and-brew ratio for you, and a price tag that doesn't leave you with no piggy banks left to open.

To help you find the perfect neighborhood–one where the coffee is perfect, the brew is cold, and the people are as friendly as it gets–we've compiled a comprehensive list of 9 top neighborhoods to consider. Even better, we've built a ranking system for each one to make this decision feel as easy as finding a coffee shop in Seattle. We’re ranking:

• Atmosphere: nightlife & entertainment, shopping & restaurants, and beauty & parks

• Amenities: schools, public transit, and points of interest

• Experience: safety, affordability, and walkability

The result is a prioritized list of the best places to move to in Seattle, Washington.

Why should you listen to us? We might not have as many lakes or cafés as Seattle, but we sure have plenty of experience with our top-ranked rentals across the US.

Perfect for young professionals looking for a relaxed area with great walkability and schools.

Montlake is an affluent area of Seattle located just northeast of downtown and surrounded by the beautiful waters of Portage Bay. This is a perfect place for young professionals to move in with roommates and experience a relaxed and charming neighborhood.

Nature lovers can rejoice knowing they’ll have the Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens. The perfect place to go for a walk, bike ride, or a jog with green scenery like no other.

At Montlake, you’ll find some excellent quality coffee–something essential in Seattle–like the Italian deliciousness at Café Lago or the more vibrant atmosphere at Fuel Coffee. There are many other places, and soon you’ll find your favorite coffee shop.

If you’re looking for an active community that will welcome you with arms wide open, Montlake is what you’re looking for. They do events like the Annual Montlake Community Club 5K Turkey Trot and Kids Run–of which 100% of proceeds go to the University District Food Bank. So you can feel good with your body and know you’re doing something great for the community. This is also a great chance to meet your other Turkey Trotter half–wink, wink.

Montlake’s perfect scores in Walkability, Beauty and Parks, and Safety provide this relaxed neighborhood with great views, simple choices, and a peaceful life. However, if you feel like venturing out for a night out, you’re never too far away from other, more lively neighborhoods.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Montlake scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking to be close to downtown and experience a relaxed, chill area.

Madrona and Leschi neighborhoods are located east of downtown Seattle and on Lake Washington. They offer beautiful views, top-rated schools, and everything you might need right at your fingertips.

These sister neighborhoods are mostly seen as residential areas, but once you venture into them, you’ll find out the variety of bistros, cafés, and shops that it offers. The 34th Street gives these neighborhoods a solid four out of five in Shopping and Restaurants.

If you’re looking for waterfront sightseeing, head to the Leschi Park Marina. Or the Blue Water Bistro, where you’ll find delicious fresh local seafood while enjoying the idyllic views of the boats on the docks.

For those looking for a little more greenery in this waterfront area, you have Madrona Park. In it, you’ll find the Madrona Creek, which you can hike up when you need a break from city life. There’s also Leschi Park and Frink Park. Both are great places for a bike ride, family jog, or romantic walk.

Madrona and Leschi are two neighborhoods that sum up what living in Seattle is all about: great location, surrounded by nature, and tidy craftsman homes filling up the streets. Come here for the views; stay for the vibes.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Madrona & Leschi scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for a diverse community and a beer-to-coffee ratio that makes life well-balanced.

Beacon Hill is one of Seattle's oldest residential neighborhoods. It's also one of Seattle's most diverse communities. These multicultural residents have shaped the neighborhood into what it is now, a perfect blend of great variety cuisines, and a helpful and open-minded community.

Grab a delicious taco or quesadilla at El Quetzal or Baja Bistro, or eat authentic Asian food at Wicked Chopstix or Dim Sum House. Whatever you're craving, you'll easily find it in this neighborhood.

Beacon Hill Station is at the center of the commercial hub that is Beacon Hill. In it, you'll find the light rail that easily connects you to the rest of the city–15 minutes to the city center and less than half an hour to the airport.

Thanks to the light rail, bike paths, and hiking trails, Beacon Hill is one of the best neighborhoods if you're looking to have a car-free life–which will save you a lot of money that you can spend on delicious food from all over the world.

At Jefferson Park, you'll find plenty of activities to do. You'll get to play golf in its over 100 year old course. You'll also be able to learn about gardening and eat some delicious self-grown food from the community program of edible trees.

In Beacon Hill, you'll also find a social justice non-profit organization called El Centro de la Raza. A community-building organization focused on helping to empower people of all races and economic sectors. Feeling in a helping mood? Volunteer at this center and see how you can impact those around you.

For the bookworms out there, you'll be pleased to know that you have the Beacon Hill Branch of the Seattle Public Library just next to the station. However, if a library is not quite your cup of tea, you'll find plenty of quirky artisan cafés to enjoy a cup of joe with your favorite book.

In Beacon Avenue, you'll find plenty of things to do, from yoga studios to cool breweries, a bike shop, and an upscale pizza place for those lazy Saturday nights. Beacon Hill doesn't have as many things as other parts of Seattle. However, it does have everything you need for a tasty bite of the Seattle lifestyle.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Beacon Hill scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for those looking to be next to Seattle's favorite beach and have the best of the city's green space to explore.

West Seattle is truly a gem of this city. You'll get the best of the land, and the sea, with the rich history of Seattle sprinkled on top.

Located to the southwest of downtown and surrounded by water on three sides, West Seattle is truly a showcase of Seattle's best nature. The Greenbelt located on the eastern side of West Seattle is a great place to escape the city vibes and immerse yourself in a nature-filled state of mind. After all, West Seattle is the home of one-third of the city's green spaces and urban forests. Oh, and there's also the charming Chinese Garden for you to find some zen.

In this neighborhood, you'll also get to enjoy some of the rich history of Seattle. By Alki Point, you'll see where the Denny Party landed just 170 years ago. A reenactment of that famous landing is reenacted every year since 1950, during the week-long Seafair celebration. There's also the Log House museum for you to spend a Sunday learning more about the history of Seattle.

From Alki Point, you're just a stone's throw away from the most popular beach in Seattle: Alki Beach. Soak it all in with your family, date, or friends. Visit for a morning swim, an afternoon tanning session, or a summer bonfire night with friends.

West Seattle Junction is the commercial hub of the neighborhood. Inside there are casual eateries, coffee shops for days, and other funky shops for you to peruse.

The area's nightlife is mainly targeted to date nights or outing time with friends, so it's not really a place to be single and ready to mingle.

The laid-back residential vibe of West Seattle is the perfect setting for those looking to have some easy daily exposure to nature. Plus, thanks to the excellent accessibility to downtown, you'll enjoy much more vibrant city life with just a short drive or bike ride.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how West Seattle scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals who work downtown or college students who want to live in the most picturesque area of Seattle.

North Queen Anne is where all of the pictures of Seattle's skyline are taken. This neighborhood is on a giant hill, so the views will change depending on how high your home will be. However, one thing is certain, with the number of things to do and the steep hills you'll find, you'll need your most active clothes, or a fast car to get you everywhere you want to be– a chance to get those legs as toned as you've always wanted!

North Queen Anne, also known as Upper Queen Anne or Simply Queen Anne, is slightly different from its sibling, Lower Queen Anne. Lower Queen Anne used to be part of downtown. This legacy still holds in its nightlife and more hustle and bustle vibes. Instead, in North Queen Anne, you get the best of the urban and the residential side of Seattle.

North Queen Anne has some of the best views of the city's landscape, and it also offers a supportive community vibe. Although its platonic front lawns and historic Victoria Townhomes give Queen Anne a bit of esteemed and luxurious air, in reality, it is a quaint and laid-back neighborhood.

In this neighborhood, you'll find everything from international college students at Seattle Pacific University to young professionals and couples to settled-down Seattle families.

In terms of entertainment, you'll be able to find things like the Rosebud Motel, a homage installation to the television show Schitt's Creek. There's also the How to Kill a Wolf, a top-rated Italian restaurant–we promise you, they don't serve wolves–and the Interbay Athletic Complex.

North Queen Anne gets a deserving four out of five in all of its entertainment categories and its Public Transit, Schools, and Safety. Definitely a great neighborhood to consider when moving to Seattle.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how North Queen Anna scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for active people looking to have an awesome place to jog, swim, bike, and go kayaking.

We've arrived at the top three on our list! Wallingford and Greenlake are two of the most desired areas in Seattle. Why? Because they have nature, a lake, beautiful homes, charming streets, and the right combination of city and small-town vibes to give you exactly what you're looking for.

These two neighborhoods have a balanced number of families, young professionals, hipsters, and retirees. This shows that you'll find whatever you're looking for right here.

Wallingford and Greenlake are the ideal places in Seattle for those into outdoor activities and looking to have an active lifestyle. Thanks to the Gas Works Park, Woodland Park, and Green Lake Park, you'll have all the areas to jog, swim, kayak, and get a lovely suntan.

Get yourself a great pair of sneakers to hike, and some swimsuits with your favorite fruit stamped all over because you'll need these essential pieces of gear in these neighborhoods. It will also be a good idea to get some cool shades and Premium Spotify so you can run for days and train for a marathon, a half, or get that toned body for your Tinder pic.

Although there are some interesting restaurants and microbreweries in these neighborhoods–that give it a four out of five in Nightlife and Entertainment–if you're looking for a wild night of dancing non-stop, you'll be better off at other neighborhoods or directly downtown. The good thing is it's only a 15-minute drive from downtown.

Another great thing about these two neighborhoods is that they have the highest score in Safety from our top three areas. There is always something great when you're planning to go for a nighttime run.

Whether you like to experience the hustle and bustle of the city or prefer the quiet and calmness of a small town in the middle of the forest, Wallingford and Greenlake offer you precisely what you're looking for. Little bonus, the Seattle Zoo is just next door, ideal for when friends and family come to visit!

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Wallingford & Greenlake scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for the people that like to work hard and party harder.

Capitol Hill is the most colorful and inclusive neighborhood in Seattle. It's also the one with the most personality and most magical nightlife–this gives it a well-deserved joint spot on the third place.

Whether you're at Seattle University, a Seattle Central College student, or a young professional looking to live in the city's most vibrant and active side, Capitol Hill is calling your name.

However, despite having a perfect score in all entertainment categories and Walkability and Beauty and Park, it does have a two out of five in Affordability. It's no surprise that such a highly-rated neighborhood will have a steep price tag.

The area's Public Transit scores a four out of five, but thanks to the high walkability and limited parking space, not having a car is a real possibility in this neighborhood. Since Seattle in general is very environmentally friendly, not having a car might give you extra points with your Bumble date.

The Century Ballroom is one of Capitol Hill's shiny gems. On Wednesdays, Sundays, and most Saturdays, you'll hear vintage jazz music coming out of every club window. Not into jazz? How does salsa, bachata, or tango sound? Yeah, those are all available there too with dancing classes and all.

In Capitol Hill, you'll get a diversity of people you might not find somewhere else. There's the gay community, the tech guys, the straight people, young hipsters, and even the hippies. Cap Hill is the melting pot of Seattle.

In terms of food and drink, you'll find great restaurants and plenty of fantastic microbreweries to have a drink–or a few. There are also plenty of vegan options, and some say the best ice cream in town is found at Molly Moons.

Capitol Hill is the perfect example of a trendy and hipster neighborhood where hard work is still taking place. Come here for the vibes, and stay for the drinks, the food, the friends, and the indie films at the Egyptian theater.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Capitol Hill scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for the bohemian crowd and artists that are looking for a quaint neighborhood close to downtown.

Top two, let's go! Ballard and Fremont are two neighborhoods that share some similarities and have different vibes, although they're right next to each other. However, they're both great places to call home and the dearest neighborhoods in Seattle.

Ballard's a seafront neighborhood with a rich Scandinavian history that has oozed into the culture. On the other hand, Fremont is by the canal and has much more artsy and bohemian vibes. However, they do share some demographic stats. For example, the average age in both is similar. Ballard's is 34, and Fremont's is 32. Both are filled with young professionals and students that give these neighborhoods their contagious vibrant energy.

Fremont is an excellent space for those that love funky art. Have you ever lived in a neighborhood with a troll, a skyrocket, a giant Lenin–a very controversial statue–and a couple of dinosaurs? Fremont has huge statues of all of these things and plenty more throughout the neighborhood.

For those that enjoy a park by the shore, you'll be lucky enough to have three of those throughout Ballard and Fremont. There's the Golden Gardens Park, the Ballard Locks, and the Fremont Canal Park.

For Affordability, these two places get an incredible four out of five. This is mainly because you'll find something for every budget, and since Ballard is a bit far from downtown, it doesn't have the expensive price tag that Queen Anne does.

All entertainment categories get a perfect score thanks to the many hip pubs, eclectic shops, little boutiques, and great restaurants in these neighborhoods. Fremont and Ballard have you covered whether you're looking for a fancy photo frame, a cool barbershop, or a plant shop with so many plants you think it's just a garden.

Ballard is home to the most awarded brewery in the whole state of Washington, Reuben's Brew. Sit down and enjoy a pint of your new favorite IPA.

Whether you want to live by one of the most pristine beaches in Seattle, a famous brewery, or captivating artwork for days, Ballard and Fremont are worth considering. The bohemian vibes, the incredible nature, and the broad offering of things to do will make boredom a thing of the past.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Ballard & Fremont scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals that enjoy a quiet night but want to experience everything Seattle has to offer.

We've finally reached the top of the top. These are our number one choices when it comes to living in Seattle. Mount Baker and Columbia City are two neighborhoods with the offering, location, and community deserving of our impressive first place.

Located just southeast of downtown, by Lake Washington, and less than a 15-minutes drive from King County International Airport, you know that you've scored a winning location.

Rainier Avenue is the central hub in both neighborhoods. In it, you'll find popular places like Geraldine's Counter, a go-to spot for french toast and other comfort food in Seattle. Pho Bac restaurant for some delicious Vietnamese food. Emerald City for some old-school fish and chips and plenty of other places for you to venture and find your new favorite food.

Like any neighborhood in Seattle, you'll find some fantastic coffee roasters to get the perfect kick for a busy day or the ideal space to get in the zone for your work projects.

The community in these two neighborhoods is pretty tight and likes to have seasonal get-togethers, potlucks, parties, and yard sales. If you like the winter holidays, you'll be pleased to know that their Christmas extravaganza is unmissable.

Having Lake Washington right on your doorstep is a great way to seize all the waterfront activities and views that Seattle has to offer.

Without a ridiculously expensive price tag, and with charming Olmsted-designed greenways, pristine beaches, a light rail station, and easy access to downtown, these two neighborhoods are worth considering when thinking of Seattle. Although they don't boast a nightlife like Capitol Hill or other areas, their restaurants, taprooms, and Community Club will keep you entertained all day and all night long.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Mount Baker & Columbia City scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Time to look at the numbers of our top neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington.

Let's look at the lower numbers first. Point of Interest, Affordability, Public Transit, and Nightlife and Entertainment all scored an average of below four out of five. This is because most of the best places to live in Seattle aren't really in the city center and, as such, miss out on the vibrant nightlife or the most exciting things to do.

Now, let's look at the highlights. Beauty and parks achieved the highest average with 4.8. After all, a city with endless mountains, parks, lakes, and canals, is a city that will have a beautiful backdrop. Schools as well as Shopping and Restaurants also got fantastic scores at 4.3 and 4.4. If you're planning to grow your family soon, Seattle is a great place to be.

Seattle averaged at 39.4/50 on our best neighborhoods to live in the USA ranking.

Despite having a reputation for having polite but distant friendly Seattleites–the well-known Seattle Freeze–and a tad bit of crime, in Seattle, you'll become an important part of a friendly and helpful community once you get to know your neighbors.

If you ever wanted to live in a place with hip coffee shops, a thriving job market, and some of the best nature and outdoor activities right at your doorstep, then Seattle could be your next chapter.