2021 Best Neighborhoods to Live in the Seattle Area

Sammamish Valley

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 13,538 Population

Wilburton

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA
• Rating 4.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: Wilburton is the sweet spot in Bellevue, especially for families. Close-in to downtown and easy to get to the 405, 90, and 520 - and to light rail, from 2023. Excellent elementary school feeding into Chinook and Bellevue High. Hundreds of acres of parks, including the Botanical Gardens, Wilburton Hill, and Kelsey Creek Park. Yet still easier to buy or rent than neighborhoods west of the 405, which are fairly similar in character but much much more expensive...Read 5 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 6,954 Population

North Redmond

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 4.07 out of 5  14 reviews

Niche User: Sometimes it's boring but overall safety, jobs, parks are great and it is an awesome place to live.Read 14 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 4,564 Population

Grass Lawn

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 3.2 out of 5  10 reviews

Niche User: Living here is phenomenal. Wonderful people live around the city, making it a great place to explore. Its absolutely beautiful in every season, the parks are incredible and the encouragement from the community is great...Read 10 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 11,047 Population

Overlake

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 3.78 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: There are fairly few crimes but many police to make the area feel extra safe.Read 9 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 17,690 Population

Westlake

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Visitor: This location is great for those who work downtown and don't want a long commute. It is close to everything; restaurants, stores, downtown on Seattle waterfront. Not exactly a family neighborhood, more for career oriented singles or couples. Some street noises but nothing too bad...Read 2 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 5,321 Population

West Bellevue

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA
• Rating 4.91 out of 5  11 reviews

Niche User: I moved to Washington about 2 years ago and the general atmosphere is so friendly and liberal. Bellevue is very close to Seattle, while still maintaining a quaint and organized urban environment that continues to flourish. It has a great selection of foods from different cultures and the facilities are wonderful. The public transportation system is also very reliable and well-structured. The quality of life here is overall excellent, but it comes with a high price, especially for higher end luxuries. It is hard to find reasonably cheap housing here but the job opportunities and employment rate allow slightly make up for the cost of living. I would definitely consider living here again, if not staying here for a long while...Read 11 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 17,227 Population

Bridle Trails

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: It is a taste of country in the middle of an urban area! With a one square mile equestrian park and many one acre lots, it has beautiful trees, horses walking down the streets and incredibly easy access to downtown Bellevue, Kirkland, Microsoft and Google. Schools are fabulous and it is healthy living at its finest!...Read 1 Review

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 13,576 Population

Northeast Bellevue

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA
• Rating 3.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: I would absolutely live here forever if I were not going to college out of state. I love the easy access to breathtaking natural landscapes, parks, hikes, views, and creeks that could not be had anywhere else. I practically live in the woods, up the street from a school. Shopping centers are plentiful. Schools are amazing: award winning and nationally recognized. Population demographics are diverse and the city is a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and tolerances. The climate is generally a reliable 50 degrees F, cool enough for a jacket, warm enough to go on a walk while you wear the jacket. The only downsides are that the "seattle freeze" is a real thing and that there are so many homeless and uncared-for people. It is heartbreaking. There are numerous programs that provide relief, but still so many end up on the streets. Otherwise, this area is the best...Read 9 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 23,677 Population

Southeast Redmond

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 5,874 Population

Education Hill

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 4.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Redmond for 4 years and Education Hill for the last year. I absolutely love the walkability and close distance to Downtown Redmond, where there are a plethora of shops, movie theaters, and restaurants. I feel very safe in my quiet neighborhood, which has a lot of nature and families. I am happy to call Education Hill my home. As a woman of color, I also feel very welcome in this town full of diverse people, foods, cultures, and talents...Read 16 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 18,153 Population

Northwest Bellevue

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA
• Rating 3.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Niche User: Bellevue has one of the lowest homicide rates in the region, and from what I know, low criminal issues as well (burglary, etc).Read 5 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 21,346 Population

Sammamish Plateau

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 4.23 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: Its absolutely beautiful. The greenery, and the trails, and the air is just so crisp. The people are very friendly and the schools,stores and houses are great.Its absolutely beautiful. The greenery, and the trails, and the air is just so crisp. The people are very friendly and the schools,stores and houses are great.Its absolutely beautiful. The greenery, and the trails, and the air is just so crisp. The people are very friendly and the schools,stores and houses are great...Read 43 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 29,450 Population

South Lake Union

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: I'm living in South Lake Union through a program that offers reduced rent for lower income individuals and families. Overall it's a very nice place to live. The park by Lake Union and off of Denny Way are great options for those who want to enjoy the outdoors. Amazon HQ is in this area, so traffic can be pretty bad, but there are also a lot of good options for public transportation and walking. There aren't a ton of options for nightlife in terms of clubs or bars, but there are some great restaurants, fitness boutiques, small stores, and a Whole Foods all in the central part of the neighborhood. There are also regularly outdoor events, such as the SLU Summer Markets, events at MOHAI, etc. With that being said, this is a pretty expensive neighborhood, and affordability can be an issue...Read 3 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 21,431 Population

Woodridge

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA
• Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Former Resident: I lived on Woodridge Hill for 16 years. It's a wonderful neighborhood for families with children, as it's a close knit community in a great school district. The homes and common areas on Woodridge Hill are well maintained...It's centrally located with easy access to downtown Bellevue (5 minute drive outside of rush hour), the airport, and Seattle. There are a lot of job opportunities close by in Bellevue. Including: retail, food service, medical, professional, and technical. The technical job market is very good in Bellevue.The nightlife in Bellevue has improved quite a bit over the last 10 years and will only continue to improve.Read 4 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 6,983 Population

Lower Queen Anne

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.36 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Lower Queen Anne for 2 years now. Overall it is a nice place to live but like most areas, it has it's faults. The area has quite a few homeless people either camping or roaming around. I have had a few not so nice encounters but they mind their own business for the most part. Despite this problem that is prevalent in many areas of Seattle, Lower Queen Anne has nice restaurants (Pho Than Brothers, Bahn Thai, Mashawi), a variety of coffee shops, and there's MoPop, the Science Center, and of course the Space Needle in Seattle Center. If you have money to spend, you will not get bored in Lower Queen Anne...Read 11 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 22,717 Population

South Hollywood Hill

• Neighborhood in Redmond, WA
• Rating 3.77 out of 5  13 reviews

Niche User: Honestly, it's a lovely place to live. Busses make it easy to get around from city to city, and the people are quite lovely. The city (Seattle) is easily accessible and it is a lovely city. The cities around Seattle (Redmond, Bellevue, Woodinville) are all nice cities as well. All of them have their own ring to them that makes each one unique. All the people are rather unique as well...Read 13 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 8,957 Population

First Hill

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.59 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Want to live in an affordable neighborhood that easily connects to all Seattle's major destinations through public transportation? Look no further! As one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods, First Hill has a unique charm and character that appeals to all. With a vast diversity in food options and convenient access to 24-hour stores, it is easy to fall in love...Read 17 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 18,614 Population

Madrona

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.6 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: Good, safe, nice neighborhood. Highly expensive, and ver white upper middle class. Good for kids, Garfield (the nearby HS) is pretty good, one of the better schools in the city.Read 15 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 10,294 Population

Belltown

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.69 out of 5  36 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, I love living in Belltown. I am literally within walking distance to almost everything I need. I have met so many people (and dogs!) and there is always something fun going on or somewhere cool to hang out. My only complaint about Belltown is the unsavory characters that often congregate in the neighborhood, but for the most part I always feel relatively safe...Read 36 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 27,051 Population

North Queen Anne

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  39 reviews

Current Resident: Upper Queen Anne is a very beautiful part of Seattle - there are a lot of privileged schools and scenic parks. Houses are generally well maintained, and although pricey, would be a good area to raise a family. That being said, there is also a pretentious side to the area and it is very white. Seattle neighborhoods all have unique personalities so it is just important to find one that fits your own lifestyle! I would recommend the area to someone to check out...Read 39 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 16,260 Population

Beaux Arts Village

• Neighborhood in Bellevue, WA

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 2,129 Population

Sand Point

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade A+

• grade A

• 2,258 Population

Portage Bay

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA

• grade A+

• grade A

• 2,268 Population

Ravenna

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.41 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Ravenna has been a lovely neighborhood to grow up in. I was conveniently located in a central part of Seattle as I was never more than ten minutes away from my schools and about twenty minutes from Downtown Seattle. I have found that all my neighbors have been friendly and the neighborhood is quite safe. It is a diverse area, with people from all walks of life living right around the corner. Ravenna has provided me with great educational opportunities because of the schools located near by. Furthermore, there are great recreational facilities in the area as well, which allowed me to be heavily involved within the community growing up...Read 17 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 19,006 Population