Pick the Perfect Seattle Neighborhood for College Life 

I'm Sharon, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Seattle, Washington. Whether you're new to Seattle or grew up here, the neighborhood where you live makes a huge difference while attending college. I learned from experience that time, money, and transportation are the main concerns when picking the perfect place to call home. Take care of those basics, and the rest will fall into place. I'm here to help you get organized. Start the list now. You can thank me later.

The Emerald City

We call Washington the Evergreen State, and Seattle is its crown jewel, the Emerald City. Green is a theme here. Our neighborhoods, even urban areas, are green year-round thanks to rain and evergreen plants and trees. Seattle's culture is also green. We recycle, separate compost, and encourage reusable bags for shopping. College students need to manage their money wisely. Every little thing adds up, including paying to purchase plastic bags. You can save money with one purchase. Buy a cute tote or two to carry your groceries. Pike Place Market is downtown on the waterfront. It's the oldest operating farmer’s market in the U.S. Pro Tip: Subscribe to the Pike Box in spring for fresh produce at deeply discounted prices. The Ballard Farmer's Market and the Fremont Sunday Market are personal favorites. There's so much more than fruits and veggies, like live music, art, and food vendors.

Seattle sits on the eastern shore of Puget Sound. Look to the east, you'll see the Cascade Mountains. The sun sets in the west, over the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier is a towering giant to the south. Seattle's Space Needle, an artifact from the 1962 World’s Fair, draws visitors from around the world. If you venture to the top, the reward is a 520-foot open-air observation deck, with a breathtaking 360-degree view of Seattle and the surrounding area. In 2024, The Seattle waterfront welcomed a new addition, the Overlook Walk. This elevated park and pedestrian pathway connects Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion to the Waterfront. It's no wonder so many people who come to attend college end up calling Seattle home.

Layer Like A Local

You may have heard that it always rains in Seattle. It rains a lot from October through May, but when the sun comes out, it feels like heaven. Summer is usually hot and dry. After living in the area for years, I've learned to wear layers because the weather can change dramatically throughout the day. Depending on the temperature, layering might include leggings, pants, a tank top, a t-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt, a hoodie, a rain jacket, or an overcoat. The combinations are endless.

Most of us don't bother with umbrellas as they're hard to manage, and depending on how windy it is, an umbrella can be useless. If it's freezing, I'll add a hat, gloves, and scarf. You'll also need a backpack, especially when using public transportation. The weather is likely one reason Seattle has spawned some of the most well-known outdoor brands in the country, like REI. Our cold and rainy weather means snow in the mountains during the winter and plentiful rivers, lakes, and streams to explore when hiking and camping. Best of all, everything is within reach, even without a car.

To Drive or Not to Drive

I always think about the commute when moving to a new area. How much time will I spend driving versus taking public transportation or walking? You would think a car would naturally make life easier. It might, depending on the neighborhood. Consider traffic, driving time to campus, gas, upkeep, parking, insurance, car payments, etc. I could go on, but you get the picture. There is freedom in not driving in Seattle.

King County Metro provides many bus stops and connections throughout the city's neighborhoods. Sound Transit's ever-expanding light rail system runs to North Seattle and south to Renton, Tukwila, and SeaTac. You can read during the commute instead of fighting traffic. Would that be a better use of time? I've crammed in a lot of last-minute test prep during a ride on the metro. If you live in one of the urban areas surrounding campus, you can even hop on a rideshare e-bike or scooter using an APP to locate, pay for, and unlock it. No problem if you want to get out of town. SeaTac Airport and the Amtrack Railway are a bus ride away.

Food Is Fuel, but Also Fun

Groceries are a necessary expense to figure into your budget. If you're a foodie, you'll love Seattle's culinary diversity. Authentic Asian cuisine isn't hard to find, and there's no better place in the city to shop for value than the Uwajimaya Village in the International District. Still, I had my first taste of Vietnamese noodle soup at a cute little restaurant in the University District (U District) with my daughter when she was living on campus. It was an inexpensive treat and an instant favorite. We've been meeting for lunch at local Phở restaurants ever since.

You might need an old-fashioned breakfast or brunch after a long night of studying, etc. If you're looking for comfort food and a small-town atmosphere, neighborhoods like Fremont, Green Lake, Ballard, and Wallingford feel like home. Maybe you know about Seattle's love affair with coffee. Starbucks and local roasters inspired my love for quality coffee. The Starbucks Center in Seattle's SoDo district is home to the company's world headquarters. But the U District has some of the best coffee house vibes around.

Pet Friendly—To A Point

Pets are companions who can keep you company during a long night of studying. Seattle is pet-friendly. You'll find plenty of options for renting a place and bringing your cat or dog. There are urban dog parks and many dog-friendly public places, like the Cloudburst Brewery. The thing is, pets take time and money. There are also breed restrictions. Most places require insurance, a pet deposit, and even a monthly rental fee.

If you want a pet, you need a plan. Pet insurance is required for rentals to cover property damage, etc. You can also purchase medical insurance for your pet to cover expenses if they get sick. If you can't afford it, consider dog-walking or cat-sitting to earn extra money and get the cuddles you crave. My son makes an excellent living caring for urban pets on Capitol Hill. Check out a company like Rover to see if caring for other people's pets would work for you.

Off-Campus vs On-Campus Student Apartments

If you live outside the state, you might feel most comfortable choosing on-campus housing until you get used to the area. Student housing has benefits, including a built-in community and easy food access. The flipside is the noise and distraction of rooming with other students, the curfew, and limited food choices. While it saves commute time to live on campus, the distractions might suck up the time you save—something to think about.

My daughter attended the University of Washington's main campus and chose student housing at first, even though she grew up in West Seattle and could have lived at home for free. She wanted the experience of living in a dorm. I tried to understand. Eventually, the novelty wore off, and she moved from the dorms. She found an apartment in Lake City and lived with one roommate to keep expenses lower. It was a short bus commute to campus. Still, dorm life is an experience I'm sure she'll always cherish.

Rent an Apartment Near Your College: Top Seattle Neighborhoods

Seattle is an adventure for college students from Belltown and Pioneer Square to the U District and North Seattle. I don't want to feed you false dreams of cheap rent. The Emerald City is an expensive place to live. But the potential to make fantastic money after college is higher than average. In the meantime, you can take advantage of student discounts, create a budget, and find your perfect college apartment. Check out our neighborhood listings, explore, and discover what works best for you.

University of Washington Main Campus

The University of Washington (UW: pronounced you dub) is the home of the Huskies. My daughter's alma mater ranked #1 as the most innovative public university in the world. The UW Seattle campus is beautiful, cherry trees line The Quad, blooming in the spring.

University District

The U District offers more options for student housing than anywhere else in the area. You can choose from affordable studio or communal living spaces. Huskies can take advantage of free student admission at The Burke Museum. Hang out on The Ave close to UW between NE 41st and NE 50th, and find inexpensive restaurants, book and record stores, retro clothing shops, and movie theaters. And don't be surprised if you discover your forever coffee shop.

Fremont

We call Fremont "The Center of the Universe." Maybe it got the nickname because of all the big tech companies that seem to flock to the area. But more likely, it's something to do with Fremont being a gathering place for some of Seattle's more colorful characters. This neighborhood has been a long-time favorite for me and my family because of the arts community. We spent many summer afternoons at Gasworks Park listening to live music.

Lake City

Lake City is one of the cheaper areas to live in Seattle. It's an easy commute to Northgate or downtown, and you can get to big-name stores like Fred Myer and Grocery Outlet by bus or on foot. Still, it's nice to have a car when living in this area. You can hop a bus to Matthews Beach, but loading the car with picnic supplies is more convenient if you want to make a day of it.

Seattle University

Seattle University is home to the Redhawks. Seattle U offers global education opportunities, focusing on academic diversity and community-building. This Catholic university is on a 50-acre campus near Capitol Hill and First Hill.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is a vibrant community, perfect for college students. The neighborhood is an eclectic mix of classic food and entertainment and a hub for Seattle's counterculture of artists, musicians, and activists. No car necessary—everything you want is within walking distance or a quick bus ride away. Of course, you can always call Uber if needed.

First Hill Apartments

First Hill is one of our oldest neighborhoods. It's east of downtown and close to Seattle U. You can get to campus using the First Hill line streetcar. Multiple stops make exploring easy throughout Capitol Hill, the Central District, Yesler Terrace, Pioneer Square, and the International District.

Central District

Seattle's Central District is a popular area for college students. It's one of the city's oldest residential neighborhoods, full of history, character, and cultural diversity. Like all Seattle neighborhoods, the area has unique restaurants, including Ezell's Famous Chicken. You'll find nightlife at places like the Madison Pub and Rachel’s Ginger Beer. There's plenty of art and shopping too.

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) is a private, Christian university, but doesn't require students to identify as a Christian. This liberal arts university is on the north side of Queen Anne Hill. Small classes are a huge draw, and the school ranks among the best universities in the nation.

Queen Anne

This neighborhood splits into North, East, South, and West, but locals call it Upper Queen Anne and Lower Queen Anne. The south part borders downtown. You'll find quiet, tree-lined streets with stairways to help make it easier to get around.

South Lake Union

Trendy is the word that comes to mind when I think of South Lake Union. It's nestled in between Capitol Hill and Belltown, bordering Lake Union. All the latest shops, hot spots, and entertainment are close by. And getting around is easy with the light rail, buses, and Sound Transit.

Ballard

Ballard was once a fishing village. Today you'll find great food, various coffee shops, and the typical places you'd shop for groceries like Fred Myer and Safeway. There are also many longtime establishments and locals in this neighborhood. Golden Gardens Park is a favorite nearby spot for campfires in summer and fall.

Antioch University

Antioch University in Belltown has a good reputation for experiential learning programs in creative writing, environmental studies, psychology, and nursing programs. Antioch caters to adult learners by offering flexible schedules and counting life experience toward credits.

Belltown

Belltown is an exciting area for renting an apartment in Seattle, especially if you're into nightlife and live music. This neighborhood is in the heart of the city, close to the waterfront, Pioneer Square, the Seattle Art Museum, and Pike Place Market. There's even a dog park nearby.

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is a great place to live as long as you can handle life in the city. There's plenty of action since it's close to Lumen Field, where the Seattle Seahawks play. College students love the monthly art walk, dive bars, comedy clubs, food options, and entertainment, including the Seattle Underground Tour.

North Seattle College

North Seattle College is part of the Seattle Colleges District. The school is in the Northgate neighborhood, near Interstate 5 and Highway 99. The campus includes wetlands, inspiring a college-wide commitment to sustainability.

Northgate

Northgate is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the Seattle city limits, home to a main transit center. The area is convenient for shopping, with Target, Macy's, JCPenney, TJ Max, Ross, etc. There's also a theater with an IMAX screen. The rest of the neighborhood is mainly residential.

Greenlake

Living in Greenlake is a nice option for college students. The lake has a bike/walking path circling it and a park to picnic. Plus, you can rent paddleboats and other aquatic equipment. If you want to take a dip, on a hot afternoon, there's a swimming area. You can even go fishing if the urge strikes.

Wallingford

I've always thought of Wallingford as a hometown in the middle of the city. It's mostly residential with single-owner restaurants. My favorite is the iconic Bluestar Cafe and Pub. You'll notice there are fewer bus stops in this part of town. So if you rent an apartment in Wallingford, you might want a car to make shopping trips more convenient.

You Got This!

Seattle is a wonderful place to live for college students. Create a budget and stick to your plan. You'll discover that many neighborhoods are close to more than one campus. Between the excellent education, spectacular scenery, outdoor adventures, nightlife, and great food, you really can't beat it. By graduation, you'll be ready for the next level. Who knows, maybe you'll rent a luxury apartment on Queen Anne Hill overlooking the city once you land your dream job. ApartmentHomeLiving.com and yours truly will be there with you when you need us!