2018 Best Places to Live in WashingtonAbout this List

Westlake

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 2

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

• A+

• A

• 3,977 Population

Madrona

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 12

• A+

• A

• 10,016 Population

Redmond

• Town in Washington
• 51

Former Resident: It's clean and very well kept. The schools are all very highly rated and they pay high attention to achademics. The town has such beautiful parks and trails to take your kids out on a nice sunny day. You'll never be bored with the different types of food and different cultures celebrated throughout the year during events. If you love the outdoors, then you'll absolutely love Redmond! During the Spring and Summer months, there will be live shows in the park and so many other different outdoor events. If you are someone who enjoys biking, then this is the place for you! There are so many bike trails and bike lanes throughout the city.
Read 51 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 59,268 Population

South Lake Union

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 2

Current Resident: Busy and constantly being further developed. Amazon has taken over and is tearing down many of the old buildings to make room for their new buildings. Bartells is at the center and is a great Drug Store. South Lake Union is a beautiful family friendly park and MoHAI is right there.
Read 2 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 16,441 Population

Windermere

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 1

Current Resident: I've lived here since I was three. My house is a few blocks from Magnuson Park, which was an excellent bike ride when I was just learning how to. I babysit in the neighborhood, and have multiple families that I work for within walking distance of my house. Even though some families choose not to connect with the neighborhood, and I respect that, I have found the community here to be outstanding.
Read 1 Review

• A+

• A

• 9,843 Population

Clyde Hill

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• A+

• A+

• 3,197 Population

Lower Queen Anne

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 6

Former Resident: I grew up in Queen Anne and I took it for granted as when I moved I missed it daily. Queen Anne has such a relaxing and accepting vibe, you could walk anywhere or take the bus so there was never worry about transportation. Locals were friendly, at least to each other and I had an amazingly cute old apartment building. Queen Anne is beautiful however sadly overpriced now and locals (such as myself) had to move because of it.
Read 6 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 19,846 Population

Belltown

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 34

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 34 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 21,348 Population

Mann

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 9

Niche User: The crime and safety for this area's, I chose the rating as it shows on top of the box it's the best. This area I have been leaving for almost a year now, I have never hard a gun shot or anything else that has to do with crime. At night times when everyone go to sleep, you can't even hear a thing, even when your neighbors are having some difficulty with each other.
Read 9 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 7,734 Population

Sammamish

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 91

Current Resident: Sammamish, Washington is one of the best communities to live in. Sammamish is full of beautiful nature. There are walking, biking and hiking trails just about everywhere you go. You don't have to drive too far to visit a local grocery store, mail office or even a salon. There is plenty of shopping with just about any store you can think of. It is a very quiet and relaxed neighborhood where you can actually talk to your neighbors. It is family-friendly with excellent schools and is ranked #1 in safety out of all neighborhoods in Washington state!
Read 91 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 62,136 Population

Portage Bay

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA

• A+

• A

• 2,442 Population

East Queen Anne

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 13

Niche User: I enjoy Queen Anne's central location. I was able to find large full house rentals for shared living out here that makes my rent significantly cheaper than it was in Capital Hill. Commuting is easy with 5 buses coming within blocks of my house and very short walks to South Lake Union and Belltown. There is more nightlife here than there used to be but I would say that is what Queen Anne lacks the most. Lots of nearby daytime activities with Lake Union and the Seattle Center so close by though.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 14,424 Population

Bellevue

• City in Washington
• 60

Current Resident: It's such a beautiful city with lots of racial diversity and great public schools. It's known to be quite safe and family friendly, which plenty of parks and little beaches by the lakes. It's close to lakes, mountains, bike trails, and forests - all these Pacific Northwest delights, perfect for the outdoorsy person.

The downside is housing prices are skyrocketing. People living here are more affluent than average - some are even being priced out of the market. Many immigrants (often from Asia) buy real estate here. Many people are very health conscious. The population is increasing and there is lots of construction. Commute times are increasing quickly as well. Job opportunities are good if you have the skills like computer science, engineering, or business because the greater Seattle area has so many tech companies.
Read 60 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 136,718 Population

View Ridge

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA

• A+

• A

• 8,714 Population

North Queen Anne

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 36

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 36 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 15,387 Population

Sand Point

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 1

• A+

• A

• 2,094 Population

Yarrow Point

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• A+

• A+

• 1,149 Population

Harrison/Denny-Blaine

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA

• A+

• A

• 6,511 Population

Bryant

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 6

Current Resident: I've lived on The edge of Bryant neighborhood for 6 years on 35th Ave NE at NE 65th. I've felt no fear of crime here 96% the time. I feel comfortable walking the blocks with or without my large now senior dog. The bus has become more frequent over the years & runs later. There's diversity of people yet it feels very white bread & even uptight in ways. The nearest store's selection reflects my observation. There's next to nothing as far as nightlife here. However it's a great central location for the city including the neighboring North end cities of Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline & Bothell and the Kirkland, Juanita and Bellevue communities & Lake Washington if you have transportation all are within quick access. University Village shopping center is close and probably where I find the most social opportunities & diversity of people, food & fashions nearby. People tend be most at ease to engage in conversations here. The blocks and homes well kept up.
Read 6 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 7,157 Population

Stevens

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 11

Niche User: This area is close to my school, many restaurants and even a downtown!
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 15,540 Population

Wedgwood

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 19

Current Resident: My daughter and I have loved living here. Her middle and high school years were great and we were always met with helpfulness and kindness. We have been here 8 years (coming from NYC!). There has always been lots to do, parks to visit, close-by grocery shopping, neighbors and dogs to greet us. I really don't think there is a median age as people range from infancy to age 100. That's what makes this area so wonderful. It has gotten crowded over the years and traffic can be a hindrance. But we deal with it. You must be patient!
Read 19 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 11,477 Population

West Queen Anne

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 11

Current Resident: What I love about my neighborhood is that there are tons of friendly families. All of my friends and close family friends all live in or around my neighborhood! Everyone is very accepting and welcoming, no matter where you're from.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 8,810 Population

Ravenna

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 13

Current Resident: Ravenna is a short drive from downtown and Capitol Hill but feels much more secluded and like a real neighborhood. Folks say hi to each other and kids play outside, people keep beautiful gardens and the homes are gorgeous. It is much quieter and more family oriented. There is a lack of diversity, both in terms of ethnicity and economically. We rent, but most people around us own their homes.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 17,793 Population

Laurelhurst

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 2

• A+

• A

• 6,594 Population

Montlake

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA
• 8

• A+

• A

• 6,712 Population