logo

    Best Neighborhoods in Seattle, WA

    4 neighborhoods ranked by safety, walkability, affordability, and quality of life — powered by real data from the US Census, FBI, EPA, and Walk Score.

    Population: 737,0152026 Data

    Best Neighborhoods in Seattle, WA — Key Takeaways

    The best neighborhood in Seattle is Capitol Hill with a Kurby Score of 71/100. Seattle has 4 neighborhoods ranked by quality of life data. The safest neighborhood is Capitol Hill with a violent crime rate of 3.7 per 1,000 residents. The most affordable is Capitol Hill with a median home value of $680,000. The most walkable is Queen Anne with a Walk Score of 96/100.

    Seattle has a population of 737,015, a median household income of $97,185, an unemployment rate of 4.9%. The median home value citywide is $780,000, which is 177% above the national average of $281,900.

    Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.

    Looking at a specific address in Seattle?

    Get a free AI-powered neighborhood report with 50+ data points.

    Top 3 Neighborhoods

    Capitol Hill

    71/100

    Kurby Score

    $680,000
    Walk: 95
    Crime: 3.7

    Ballard

    69/100

    Kurby Score

    $720,000
    Walk: 85
    Crime: 3.7

    Queen Anne

    68/100

    Kurby Score

    $690,000
    Walk: 96
    Crime: 3.7
    Complete Rankings — 4 Neighborhoods
    Best neighborhoods in Seattle ranked by Kurby Score, with median home value, walk score, crime rate, poverty rate, and unemployment rate.
    #NeighborhoodKurby Score
    		Capitol Hill71
    		Ballard69
    		Queen Anne68
    4
    		Fremont67

    Rankings by Category

    Top 5 neighborhoods in Seattle for each quality-of-life metric.

    Safest

    Lowest violent crime rate

    1. 1
      Capitol Hill
      3.7 per 1K
    2. 2
      Ballard
      3.7 per 1K
    3. 3
      Queen Anne
      3.7 per 1K
    4. 4
      Fremont
      3.7 per 1K
    Most Walkable

    Highest Walk Score

    1. 1
      Queen Anne
      96/100
    2. 2
      Capitol Hill
      95/100
    3. 3
      Ballard
      85/100
    4. 4
      Fremont
      85/100
    Most Affordable

    Lowest median home value

    1. 1
      Capitol Hill
      $680,000
    2. 2
      Queen Anne
      $690,000
    3. 3
      Ballard
      $720,000
    4. 4
      Fremont
      $750,000
    Lowest Unemployment

    Lowest unemployment rate

    1. 1
      Capitol Hill
      4.9%
    2. 2
      Ballard
      4.9%
    3. 3
      Queen Anne
      4.9%
    4. 4
      Fremont
      4.9%
    Highest Income

    Highest median household income

    1. 1
      Capitol Hill
      $161,926
    2. 2
      Queen Anne
      $160,313
    3. 3
      Ballard
      $132,339
    4. 4
      Fremont
      $120,216
    Best Air Quality

    Lowest Air Quality Index

    1. 1
      Capitol Hill
      AQI 27
    2. 2
      Ballard
      AQI 27
    3. 3
      Queen Anne
      AQI 27
    4. 4
      Fremont
      AQI 27
    Best for Families

    Most nearby schools

    1. 1
      Queen Anne
      50 schools
    How We Rank Neighborhoods in Seattle

    Neighborhoods are ranked using the Kurby Score, a composite quality-of-life index that evaluates seven weighted categories based on publicly available data:

    Affordability
    20% weight
    Walkability & Transit
    15% weight
    Safety
    15% weight
    Environment
    15% weight
    Housing Market
    15% weight
    Education
    10% weight
    Economy
    10% weight

    Each category incorporates multiple data points. For example, Safety uses both violent and property crime rates; Environment considers air quality (AQI), noise levels, climate risk, and flood zone status; Housing Market factors in vacancy rates, homeownership rates, and effective tax rates.

    Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and EIA Electricity Data. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the best neighborhoods in Seattle?
    The top neighborhoods in Seattle based on the Kurby Score are: Capitol Hill, Ballard, Queen Anne, Fremont. These rankings consider safety, walkability, affordability, air quality, and schools.
    What is the safest neighborhood in Seattle?
    The safest neighborhood in Seattle is Capitol Hill with a violent crime rate of 3.7 per 1,000 residents. The national average is 3.7 per 1,000.
    What is the most affordable neighborhood in Seattle?
    The most affordable neighborhood in Seattle is Capitol Hill with a median home value of $680,000. The national median is $281,900.
    What is the most walkable neighborhood in Seattle?
    The most walkable neighborhood in Seattle is Queen Anne with a Walk Score of 96/100. The national average Walk Score is 48/100.
    What is the unemployment rate in Seattle?
    The unemployment rate in Seattle, WA is 4.9%. The national average is 3.7%.
    What is the median household income in Seattle?
    The median household income in Seattle, WA is $97,185. The national median is $74,580.

    Find Your Perfect Neighborhood in Seattle

    Search any address in Seattle for an AI-powered report with 50+ data points, including schools, flood risk, noise levels, and investment potential.