Despite what the famous Nora Ephron movie says, it's easy to be sleepless in Seattle, dating aside. From third-wave coffee shops to a legendary late-night scene, Washington state's largest city keeps you occupied from sun-up to sundown and all night long. Work is booming in the tech and IT industries. In your downtime, shopping, eclectic dining and enjoying urban parks will keep your hands full. Seattle is also considered one of the best places to live and work in Washington.

Seattle has a reputation for being an expensive city for renters. The city has an overall cost of living almost 57 percent higher than the national average. While it's pricey, that depends on where you're looking. True, rentals in downtown and the city center is on the higher side. But, if you look elsewhere on the isthmus, you'll find plenty of affordable housing.

Seattle has over 100 neighborhoods and districts to choose from. These range from suburban bedroom communities to trendy, urban districts. This almost guarantees you'll find something to fit your personality and your budget. The majority of Seattle also rents instead of owns, so you'll have plenty of options to choose from. Considering factors like walk score and things to do, these are the 20 best neighborhoods in Seattle.

The 20 best neighborhoods in Seattle to live in for 2022

Maybe you're looking for the next up-and-coming neighborhood with trendy dining and boutiques. Or, you'd prefer a laid-back, community-oriented family neighborhood. Here are our top picks for the best neighborhoods in Seattle.

1. Capitol Hill

Situated northeast of downtown, the edgy, indie Capitol Hill district is a popular spot for young people. A historic center for Seattle's LGBTQ+ community, it's known for its counterculture atmosphere. Packed with locally-owned cafés, restaurants and independent stores, it's also a hub for nightlife and live music.

Established in the early 1900s, Capitol Hill has lots of historic architecture. But renters will also find plenty of contemporary apartment complexes with top-of-the-line amenities. Residents also have several parks and connections to Seattle mass transit like the Light link commuter rail. But with a walk score of 93, Capitol Hill is easy to get around on foot.

2. Ballard

The hip Ballard neighborhood was its own independent town until 1907. Now, it's one of North Seattle's trendiest districts. The Lake Washington Ship Canal separates Ballard from central Seattle. The canal also provides a vital link between Puget Sound and Lake Union. Parks and walking paths along the canal provide front-row seats to watch ships and salmon pass through the Ballard Locks. From Golden Gate Park on the Puget Sound, residents have clear views across the sound.

Ballard has tons of community-oriented activities like farmers' markets. In its walkable urban core, you'll find craft breweries, coffee shops and indie stores. The neighborhood is home to some of Seattle's best restaurants and seafood spots. The Walrus and the Carpenter is a particular favorite. You can also explore the area's Scandinavian heritage at the National Nordic Museum. All this and more is within walking distance of the residential areas.

3. Downtown

Seattle's Downtown is home to local landmarks like the Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Compact and bustling, it's undoubtedly the heart of the city. Downtown is one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle for sports lovers. Football fans can cheer on the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Next door, T-Mobile Park is home to Major League Baseball team the Mariners. Chinatown and the waterfront have fantastic dining and restaurants. All this and more is within walking distance of sleek apartment buildings.

Due to its proximity to the business district, the city core is popular with young professionals and white-collar workers. From Downtown, bus routes and streetcars branch out to the rest of the city. Hopping on the Light link commuter rail, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is half an hour away. Interstate 5, which borders the neighborhood to the east, is an easy conduit to get out of the city. Downtown is also a great destination for live music and entertainment.

4. Queen Anne

The Downtown-adjacent Queen Anne neighborhood stretches from Puget Sound to the Lake Washington Ship Canal. It's one of Seattle's best examples of blended residential and commercial living. Closer to Downtown, you'll find iconic landmarks like the Space Needle and Chihuly Glass and Garden. The area is also a culture magnet thanks to the Seattle Shakespeare Company and the Museum of Pop Culture. The Seattle Children's Museum or neighborhood parks like Kerry Park offer kid-friendly diversions.

Queen Anne is further divided into smaller directional districts like West Queen Anne and East Queen Anne. Each area offers a different style of living. In upper Queen Anne, you'll find historic architecture and charming single-family homes. Closer to Downtown, luxury apartment complexes are more the norm.

5. Fremont

6. Lake Union

As the name suggests, Lake Union borders on the lake of the same name north of Downtown Seattle. While Seattle is well-known as a tech hub, South Lake Union is the hub of the hub. This ultra-modern district is home to Amazon corporate houses and biotech giants. Paired with the glassy high-rises and condos, the area gives off a cutting-edge vibe. This area is a destination for all things new and fancy, from trendy bars and restaurants to chic shops.

The commercial prowess of Lake Union makes it a popular place for young professionals. Boaters and watersports enthusiasts can head out onto Lake Union for kayaking, sailing and canoeing. Lake Union is also one of the best places in Seattle to see the city's famous houseboats. If you're lucky, you could even rent and live on one!

7. Waterfront

Sandwiched between Downtown and Puget Sound, Waterfront is popular with young professionals. Living here offers unbeatable views of the waterfront and Bainbridge Island. Averaging $2,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, it's one of central Seattle's pricier neighborhoods.

You also live within walking distance of some of Seattle's most famous landmarks. With its fresh seafood, produce and restaurants, Pike Place is your personal farmers market. You can get your morning coffee from the original Starbucks location. Pop into the Seattle Aquarium to say hi to your marine life neighbors, ride the Great Wheel and hop on ferries to nearby islands.

8. Northgate

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The suburban bedroom community of Northgate is smack dab in the middle of north Seattle. The area's well-ranked schools, parks and safe streets make it a popular choice for families. With I-5 cutting right through the heart of the neighborhood, commuters are downtown in 15 minutes.

Northgate is best known for its shopping and retail. The neighborhood gets its name from the Northgate Station shopping mall, which was the first covered mall in America. Here, shoppers will find many of their favorite name-brand chains and stores. Northgate is also a great stop for Asian cuisine, ranging from Japanese to Thai.

9. Wallingford

This friendly neighborhood sits on the north end of Lake Union, bordered by Fremont to the west. Wallingford is one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle for students. This is due to its affordable rent and proximity to the University of Washington. The quiet, inner neighborhood residential areas also appeal to young professionals and families. Dining options include local favorite Dicks Drive-Thru. Operating since 1954, Dicks supplies the neighborhood with burgers, French fries and milkshakes.

Wallingford also encompasses the popular Gas Works Park on Lake Union. A former industrial gas plant, the now-refurbished park has green lawns and walking and cycling paths.

10. University District

Situated to the east of Wallingford is the University District. Located right next to the University of Washington, this dense, bustling district is student central. As such, it has all the trademarks of a college district. There are abundant cheap eats from around the world like pho and pizza. Nearly every corner has cafés and bubble tea joints to keep caffeine levels and energy high. At night, bars, music venues and nightclubs keep that energy going all night long.

Everything from bookstores to grocery stores is within walking distance of student housing. Affordable off-campus apartment complexes are also close by. Along with fast and accessible mass transit, cycling and walking are the best ways to get around. On the university campus, you can attend Husky sports games, lounge in parks and visit galleries and museums.

11. Central District

The Central District is the heart of the African American, Black and African diaspora communities in Seattle. A historically African-American neighborhood, museums like the Northwest African-American Museum preserve the neighborhood's history. Located close to Downtown, residential areas mix with commercial streets and parks. The neighborhood extends west almost to downtown and ends at Lake Washington to the east. Along the lakeshore, beaches and parks offer space for outdoor recreation.

Residents celebrate black diversity and excellence throughout the district. You'll find exceptional soul food and Ethiopian restaurants. The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute supports and uplifts the local arts scene.

12. Cascade

The dense, urban Cascade neighborhood has Capitol Hill to the east, South Lake Union to the west and Downtown to the south. It's ideal for the busy worker on the go. Everything you need is within a few compact blocks. You can head straight from Scandinavian brunch spots to shopping at Whole Foods. Then, go for a quick jog around Cascade Park before drinks and dinner at the latest must-try spot.

If you work for Amazon, Cascade is right next to the company's corporate offices in South Lake Union. Work is literally around the corner. You can even get your grocery shopping done at the nearby Amazon Go convenience store.

13. Belltown

Belltown is an ideal neighborhood for renters looking to live close to Downtown but not quite in it. Paralleling the waterfront, this tightly-packed district is on Downtown's northwestern flank. Queen Anne is right overhead. Splashy new apartment complexes mix with cafés, bars, galleries and restaurants. Home to famous theaters and nightclubs like the Crocodile, the district comes alive at night.

Residents can express their creative side at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio. Olympic Park combines art and the great outdoors on the Puget Sound waterfront. Verdant waterfront parks along the sound are accessible via the Elliot Bay Trail.

14. Green Lake

Centered around a large lake of the same name, the prosperous, outdoorsy Green Lake neighborhood is a fixture of north Seattle. Parks and greenway paths surround the lake, inviting residents to come out, walk and cycle. You can also catch locally-produced shows at the Seattle Public Theater.

The residential areas are notable for their good schools and community gathering spaces. Rent is also affordable here. While the area is primarily single-family houses, you'll find apartment complexes present, as well. The majority of shopping and dining is found in the northern part of the neighborhood and along western Aurora Avenue.

15. Magnolia

Magnolia is one of Seattle's preeminent upscale neighborhoods. This affluent district looks out over Puget Sound from the tip of the peninsula. The entire head of the peninsula is home to Discovery Park. This massive urban park has everything from hiking trails to tennis courts.

Similar to nearby Queen Anne, Magnolia is full of older, historic residences and houses. Largely residential, the main businesses here are grocery shopping and dining. Schools in the area also receive high marks.

16. Beacon Hill

As you may have guessed, Beacon Hill is very hilly. You'll definitely get your steps in living here. This residential neighborhood gets its name from the long hill it's located on. From this elevated viewpoint, residents have enviable views of downtown and South Seattle. Connected to downtown by I-5, you can live close to the city center but in a quieter neighborhood. If you travel a lot for work or fun, King County International Airport is practically your next-door neighbor. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is also 15 minutes away by car.

Along with hilltop parks, golf courses, schools, churches and community centers, Beacon Hill is full of independent stores like bakeries, delis and markets. The VA Hospital dispenses top-notch health care to veterans in the area, as well.

17. Eastlake

Eastlake is a small sliver of a neighborhood on the northeastern end of Lake Union. Right across the water lies Wallingford and the University District.

If you're into the houseboat lifestyle, you'll want to check out Eastlake. Eastlake has several houseboat docks and moorings, including The Dox and Flo Villa. Well-kept parks, good schools and a healthy smattering of bars and eateries endear Eastlake to families and young professionals. The gourmet food market Seattle Caviar caters to any speciality food needs.

18. First Hill

Full of historic houses and fancy new high-rises, First Hill is the first hill encountered when heading east out of Downtown, hence its name. Despite being so close to the city center, First Hill retains a cozy, close-knit residential feel along its old streets. Residents here are next-door neighbors with the renowned 19th- and 20th-century artwork housed at the Frye Art Museum. A hub for the local healthcare industry, First Hill is home to three major hospitals and healthcare facilities. This has earned it the tongue-in-cheek nickname of Pill Hill.

First Hill is also close to Seattle University. With lower average rent prices, a fair amount of students choose to live here. That, plus the local breweries, restaurants and bars.

19. Georgetown

One of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods, Georgetown is south of the city center. Hemmed in by Interstate 5 to the east, most of the surrounding areas are industrial. The King County International Airport is also a fixture of the southern end of the neighborhood. Industrial vibes aside, Georgetown is actually a bustling residential area with a strong independent maker and creative economy.

At the House of Smith Jet City Winery, you can sample local wines and hobnob with neighbors in an industrial-chic tasting room. Within its small area, Georgetown has four breweries, including Jellyfish Brewing Company and Counterbalance Brewing. Dining options range from Japanese to Mexican. You can even support the local arts scene at Yaw Theater and galleries and studios.

20. Greenwood

The largely residential Greenwood neighborhood is in north Seattle. Its excellent schools, quiet streets and affordable housing make it a great option for families. Budget-conscious young people also welcome the proximity to hip neighborhoods like Ballard. Along 1st and Greenwood Avenue, residents find grocery stores, cafés and restaurants. Greenwood is a great hub for craft beer, as well. The democratic, member-owned Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery is one of Seattle's most forward-thinking breweries.

Greenwood also has access to two major area parks. Its northwestern corner connects to Carkeek Park, which has trails and paths to the Puget Sound Waterfront. In the southeastern corner, Green Lake is just a few blocks away.

Finding the best neighborhood in Seattle for you

It's the neighborhoods that make a city what it is. Like the cast of a play, Seattle's classic and quirky neighborhoods give this city its unique character. With so many areas to choose from, you'll be able to find the right one for you whether you're looking to rent or purchase a home.

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