What are the best transit-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle? Rainier Valley, Northgate, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and West Seattle have some of the best transit options in Seattle. Throughout these neighborhoods, you’ll find access to the Link light rail, many bus lines, Rapid Ride buses, streetcars, bike lanes, and even rentable bikes and scooters. Living in a neighborhood with excellent transit makes it a great place to buy a home due to its convenience and return on investment in the future.
The Best Transit-Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
Check Out Rocky’s Video About the Best Transit-Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
This is Rocky Flowers with Team Diva at Coldwell Banker Bain. In this video, I not only talk about the best transit-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle, but I also share what makes a neighborhood great for transit. I’ve not only lived in a lot of Seattle neighborhoods, but I’ve been here to see the evolution of transit in the region over the last 20 years. From bike lanes and rapid bus lines to the game-changing Link light rail, Seattle has made major efforts to make getting around the city easy and convenient. Seattle is working to make good transit available in all neighborhoods, and I love that!
The Best Transit-Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
Below you’ll find the best transit-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle, as well as handy info that shares exactly what makes it so convenient!
Rainier Valley
First off we have Rainier Valley. Rainier Valley has three micro-neighborhoods with Light Rail Stations, which include stations in Columbia City, Othello, and Rainier Beach. Each of these neighborhoods has its own vibe, but they all complement each other. One of the things that makes a neighborhood great for transit is how it can quickly and efficiently move people not only in to downtown but also to their own neighboring micro-neighborhoods. Columbia City generally has higher-priced homes, while Rainier Beach has more options for people starting off in the Seattle housing market.
My latest townhome listing is a great example of a Seattle home with great transit options. We’re just two blocks from the Rainier Beach light rail station. This townhouse is spacious, modern, and better yet, priced right for first-time homebuyers.
Learn more about Rainier Valley and the other Southeast Seattle neighborhoods here >
Northgate
The next neighborhood on my list is Northgate. Buying a home is an investment, and most people want to see a return when they sell. For this you should consider neighborhoods that are investing in infrastructure, business, and residential density. In addition to being central to several north Seattle neighborhoods such as Wedgwood, Licton Springs, and Maple Leaf, the Northgate light rail station is located at the site of the re-imagined Northgate Mall. There are all kinds of redevelopment projects, new stores, and amenities here. Buying a home in Northgate is sure to make living here convenient, and bring a return on your investment.
Learn more about Northgate and Northeast Seattle Here >
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill easily makes the list of the best neighborhoods in Seattle for transit. This area is the most densely populated neighborhood in Seattle. What makes it so good for transit are the diversity of transit options. Not only does it have its own light rail station, but it is connected to neighboring First Hill and Cherry Hill via the Streetcar. It has also got dedicated bike lanes to move cyclists long distances safely. For better or worse, I don’t think you will find a neighborhood in the city with more access to rentable bikes and scooters.
Capitol Hill has always had solid bus routes that move people to the downtown core and other neighborhoods around the city. The expanding Rapid Ride System will be serviced by the new G-line. This diversity in transit makes Capitol Hill one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle for transit.
Learn more about Capitol Hill here >
Ballard
The Link light rail is incredible, but it’s not the only form of rapid transit we have in Seattle. Having good transit available aside from the light rail system makes Ballard one of the best transit-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle. The regular bus system works well but sometimes you need to get from Point A to Point B a little quicker. Even before light rail was around, neighborhoods such as Ballard were connected by the Rapid Ride system. The rapid ride route provides riders with more frequent service, dedicated bus lanes, and shelters. Hop on the D Line in Ballard for direct access to downtown Seattle via Interbay. For those living in the downtown core, rapid ride lines give downtown riders access to all of the great parks, bars, and restaurants Ballard has to offer.
Learn more about Ballard and Northwest Seattle here >
West Seattle
Rounding out the best transit-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle is West Seattle. It’s geographically the largest area in Seattle. So as you can imagine it has lots of micro-neighborhoods. Westwood, Delridge, Admiral, and the Morgan and Alaska junction just to name a few. It’s important that neighborhoods are connected to the downtown core, but it’s equally important that these neighborhoods have sufficient access to each other. West Seattle is served by two rapid ride lines the H and the C that connect the micro-neighborhoods of West Seattle. West Seattle has one unique mode of transit the other neighborhoods on this list don’t. Water transit. Folks living on Vashon Island can commute into the city using the ferry system. From Alki, West Seattle commuters can walk onto the water taxi for a quick, beautiful ride over the harbor into downtown.
Learn more about West Seattle here >
Other Future Transit Hubs
I also want to note that the Judkins and Eastside light rail stations will be open within the next couple of years. This will add to the reach of all of these neighborhoods while creating more transit-friendly areas.
Learn more about Judkins Park and the Central District here >
Thank You For Joining Rocky to Learn About the Best Transit-Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
What are the best transit-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle? Rainier Valley, Northgate, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and West Seattle offer some of the very best transit options in all of Seattle. These neighborhoods all offer different transit options, from Link light rail and streetcars to bus lines and Rapid Ride buses. Bike lakes and rentable bikes and scooters are all in the mix as well. Buying a home in a neighborhood with excellent transit not only makes life more convenient, but it’s a smart investment as well.
The Best Transit-Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
- Rainier Valley
- Northgate
- Capitol Hill
- Ballard
- West Seattle
We are here to help. Our team understands that this process can take a year or two. And we are more than willing to give you a personalized plan to get the ball rolling. Feel free to contact us directly at thediva@teamedivarealestate.com or call/text 206-271-0264.
