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A view of the Seattle skyline on the waterfront in the evening.

Best Places to Rent a Home in Seattle in 2025

Read Time: 7 min read

Living in Seattle? Emerald City is a fantastic place to call home, offering residents plenty of areas with great rental homes, walkable streets, and fun things to do. Check out these five best Seattle neighborhoods to rent a home!

Ballard

  • Home Price: $1,410 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 18% of Seattle neighborhoods
  • Renter Occupied Homes: 66%
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Want to live in a nature-conscious community with plenty of green space? Ballard may be one of the best places to live in Seattle for you! It borders a long stretch of the waterfront, leading from Shilshole Bay to Salmon Bay. On a clear day in the Rainy City, you’ll catch your neighbors out enjoying the mild Seattle weather and views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains at Golden Gardens Park. Ballard is very walkable and bikeable, so you may not even need your car to run errands or go out to eat! Locally-sourced produce is readily available at the Ballard Farmers Market, or you can help grow your own in the Ballard P-Patch—which was founded in 1979, making it one of the oldest community gardens in Seattle.

Things to Do in Ballard

Head to the Ballard Locks in the southern portion of Ballard to explore seven acres of exotic trees and plants in the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden. Learn about Nordic culture and history in the Nordic Journeys exhibit and other current exhibitions at the National Nordic Museum. Play from an extensive library of tabletop games in a cozy atmosphere at the very first location of Mox Boarding House. Sign up for Outdoor, Alpine, and Avalanche Belay Courses, or simply visit for a day of indoor climbing and bouldering at Edgeworks Climbing Seattle. Wake up with a breakfast of Ricotta Toast, a Breakfast Smash, or Eggs Benedict at The Fat Hen. Sit by the sea as you enjoy Ray’s Pacific Northwest Sablefish, Dungeness Crab Cakes, or Sauteed Miso Ramen Noodles at Ray’s Boathouse. Dine on Italian options like Capellini Al Pomodoro, Penne Puttanesca, and Chicken Marsala at Ristorante Picolinos. Or sample from a seasonal rotating menu of Sri Lankan and Indian-inspired cuisine like Kerala Fried Chicken, Black Cod, and Lamb Shank at Rupee Bar.

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Beacon Hill

  • Home Price: $1,009 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 49% of Seattle neighborhoods
  • Renter Occupied Homes: 45%
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Located in south Seattle, the Beacon Hill neighborhood is centered around massive Jefferson Park—which is home to the Jefferson Park Community Center and Jefferson Park Golf Course. One of the most distinct things about Beacon Hill is the neighborhood’s narrow shape, which has led residents to divide the area into North Beacon Hill and South Beacon Hill. North Beacon Hill has a higher concentration of amenities and things to do in Seattle like restaurants and nightlife, arts, and entertainment. While South Beacon Hill doesn’t have quite as many things to do, it does provide quieter living amid kind neighbors and well-kept yards. I-5 runs along this Seattle neighborhood’s western border, where residents will also find the King County International Airport, making travel easy!

Things to Do in Beacon Hill

Stay active in the sixth largest park in the city, with a skatepark, golf course, and the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club at Jefferson Park. Attend film screenings, interactive story times, exhibits, and other community events at the Northwest African American Museum. Boulder or sign up for a yoga and fitness class at Seattle Bouldering Project. Get tickets to a range of films from classic to obscure at The Beacon Cinema nearby. Start your day in a sunny atmosphere with sweet or savory pastries like a Morning Bun, Almond Chocolate Danish, or a Currant Scone at The Flora Bakehouse. Experience a four-course family-style menu of options like Roasted Chicken w/ a Chili-Fruit Paste, House Meatballs w/ Yogurt and Tomatillo, and Hummus w/ Chickpeas & Cumin at neighborhood restaurant Homer. Sample tacos like Taco Adobada, Taco Pollo, and Taco Nopal at Tacos Chukis. Choose from patio or indoor dining with wood-fired pizzas like the Romana, Funghi, or Ortolana at Bar del Corso.

Belltown

  • Home Price: $1,471 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 0% of Seattle neighborhoods
  • Renter Occupied Homes: 82%
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families

For one of the best places to rent in Seattle close to downtown, try the Belltown neighborhood! Some of the best things to do in Seattle are located in and around this area—from Pike Place Market and the iconic Space Needle, to the Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Aquarium! The neighborhood is located right along the waterfront, so you can enjoy views of Elliott Bay in parks like Myrtle Edwards Park and Pocket Beach. Belltown is extremely walkable and easily traversable via the King County Metro’s bus lines, as well as the Seattle Monorail. You can even easily travel to Victoria, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island on the FRS Clipper ferry!

Things to Do in Belltown

Experience the “soundtrack of Belltown” with concerts from big names like Pearl Jam, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish at live music venue The Crocodile. Buy tickets to a comedy show, concert, or local theater production at the Moore Theatre. Walk through the nine-acre waterfront green space full of interesting art at Olympic Sculpture Park. Visit Seattle’s iconic Public Market Center for year-round shops, eats, and crafts in Pike Place Market. Try authentic Thai street food like Satay, Moo Ping, and Peek Gai Tod at Bangrak Market. Check out the stickers covering the walls as you enjoy entrees including Huevos Rancheros, a Caribbean Sandwich, or The 5 Point burger at 24-hour restaurant The 5 Point Cafe. Celebrate Greek flavors with Spice Rubbed Lamb Chops, Eggplant Shakshuka, and Fasolia at Lola. Or order random cocktails and fresh, local meals like Chicken Enchiladas, Crab Nachos, and Grilled Shrimp One Star Tacos at Some Random Bar.

Capitol Hill

  • Home Price: $1,259 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 12% of Seattle neighborhoods
  • Renter Occupied Homes: 71%
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

The Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle is a great balance between lively restaurants, shopping, nightlife, entertainment, and homes on quiet streets with wooded green spaces. Book lovers in particular will be drawn to local bookstores like Twice Sold Tales and Elliott Bay Book Company, while historic Volunteer Park offers plenty of hiking trails for nature enthusiasts. The artsy and LGBTQ-friendly Capitol Hill has a wide variety of housing options for any budget and easy access to plenty of things to do in Seattle. If you need to get around, Capitol Hill Light Rail Station is nearby—plus, this Seattle neighborhood’s fantastic walkability makes it easy to run errands on foot.

Things to Do in Capitol Hill

Gain an appreciation for Asian art and culture with a venue experience or a self-guided tour at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Play in the splash park or on sports courts and check out the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Volunteer Park. Pick out your next favorite read or join the Seattle Reads city-wide book club at the Seattle Public Library Capitol Hill Branch. Sign up for camps, join a pick-up basketball game, or get into fitness at the Miller Community Center. Tuck into food like Huarache, La Papazota, or Chile En Nogada served on handmade clay dishes at D’ La Santa. Grab a lunch of Whipped Goat Cheese + Marmalade Toast, Golden Beet Borscht, or Pistachio + Jalapeno Toast at Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry. Connect with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest with menu items like Halibut, Steamed Mussels, and Strozzapreti at Harry’s Fine Foods. Or sit down with the Steamed Alaskan Black Cod, Prawn Curry, or Drunken Chicken from Monsoon Seattle.

Fremont

  • Home Price: $1,462 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 42% of Seattle neighborhoods
  • Renter Occupied Homes: 73%
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families

Looking for a great neighborhood in Seattle near Lake Union? Try Fremont, Seattle’s “Center of the Universe”! Located along the Lake Washington Ship Canal, this neighborhood boasts ideal waterfront living in Seattle near cute restaurants and shops. Rain or shine, every Sunday you can check out booths full of crafts, vintage furniture and clothing, and other collectibles at the year-round Fremont Sunday Street Market. Residents of this Seattle neighborhood also keep the community beautiful and healthy with accessible raised garden plots and beekeeping at the Hazel Heights P-Patch Community Garden. The tight-knit vibe of this community is even more evident with fun and funky events like the annual Solstice Cyclists parade and Fremont Oktoberfest!

Things to Do in Fremont

“Find your flow” with group fitness classes, group training, and the Functional Fitness Area at Flow Fitness. Sing along with live shows in a variety of genres at Nectar Lounge, Seattle’s largest indoor/outdoor music venue. Have a day of fun and games with pinball, arcade games, and karaoke at The Ice Box Arcade. Meet the animals from the African Savanna, Australasia, and Assam Rhino Reserve exhibits and help support conservation efforts at the Woodland Park Zoo. Start your day with The Gus, The Big Al, Varner, and other comfort food at Seattle Biscuit Company. Try seafood options like Seared Hokkaido Scallops, Olive Crusted Atlantic Cod, or Baja Aquaculture Striped Bass at RockCreek Seafood & Spirits. Enjoy the view from the covered patio with a meal of Trofie Pasta, Seared Local Halibut, or Legumes at Le Coin. Or transport yourself to Oaxaca and Southern Mexico with the Bistec Al Estilo Capitalino, Salmon Con Tamarindo, or Birria at El Camino.

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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes

Mike Beutler

About Mike Beutler

Mike Beutler is a writer and digital content specialist who transitioned to self storage in 2020 after several years in the airline industry. His travels cultivated a passion for exploring cities across the U.S. and abroad and inspired him to learn more about practical insights for urban living. With 14 moves under his belt, both locally and cross-country, he also has a passion for minimalism and organization, and sharing tips to help others make any space feel like home while staying organized.