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Amber’s Guide to Living in the Ravenna Neighborhood

Ravenna is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seattle, and in addition to shining the spotlight on our latest Ravenna Craftsman listing, I wanted to make sure and take some time to show off the neighborhood, too! 

Ravenna is in North Seattle and is nestled in between Roosevelt, Green Lake, University District, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, Wedgwood, and Maple Leaf. It really has it all—some of the best shopping in the city is at University Village, Interstate-5 is just blocks away, tons of outdoor space and beautiful greenery fills the neighborhood, and of course, there are so many cute single-family homes along the sidewalk-lived streets. 

If you’re thinking about moving to this North Seattle neighborhood, here’s a snapshot of what you can expect. And make sure to check out my personal fave things about this neighborhood at the end! 

What Types of Homes Are in Ravenna? 

This cute Craftsman is our latest listing in Ravenna.

You’ll mostly find single-family homes in Ravenna, and especially lots of Craftsmans that have been beautifully maintained. People move to Ravenna, love it, and stay here, so they also tend to hang onto their homes for a long time. 

In the very southernmost part of Ravenna, you’ll find a lot of rentals for college students (University of Washington is just south of here). As you cross Ravenna Boulevard (which runs from Green Lake to 25th Ave NE (just north of UW), it becomes very residential. 

If you’re looking for new construction in Ravenna, it’s historically been harder to find, but there are a few options that occasionally pop up. Sometimes people will tear down an old home to build new construction, but this can be quite expensive. 

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Ravenna? 

In March 2024, the median sales price for a single-family home in Ravenna was $1,206,000. 

What Do Locals Love Most About Living in Ravenna? 

There are several parks, both large and small, throughout Ravenna.

  • Ravenna is kid-friendly. There are lots of cute little pocket neighborhood parks with playgrounds, and lots of sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. And most homes also have yards! 
  • You’re surrounded by shopping and dining. Ravenna offers the best of both worlds—you get a quiet atmosphere with parks at every turn, and yet plenty of city conveniences are never more than a few minutes away. University Village is a major perk of the neighborhood (and it’s only 0.7 miles from my latest listing in Ravenna), and there are 70+ businesses here that include shopping, restaurants, and services. It’s definitely a destination for all of Seattle. There are also several restaurants and cafes sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. Plus, you’ll find grocery shopping at PCC, Whole Foods, Safeway, and Trader Joe’s right along the neighborhood borders of Ravenna. 
  • Ravenna offers a peaceful and picturesque atmosphere. As you explore the neighborhood, you’ll find people out walking their dogs on the sidewalk-lined streets, bikers getting around the neighborhood via protected bike lanes, and tons of established greenery in addition to all of the parks. 

 

What Is It Like to Commute From Ravenna? 

Ravenna is a great connector neighborhood; you’re in North Seattle and yet it’s fairly central to many major employers. Interstate-5 is never more than 10-minute drive away. From my listing, both I-5 and Highway 522 are only 6 minutes away, and Highway 99 is just 10 minutes from home. 

Ravenna is also close to the Roosevelt Station where you can hop on the Link Light Rail. Right now, the light rail runs north and south, with the northernmost station being at Northgate, and the southernmost station being at Angle Lake. One of the major benefits of the light rail is that it offers a traffic-free ride straight to SeaTac International Airport. It also takes you to neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Downtown Seattle, and SODO.

Amber’s Ravenna Favorites 

I love spending time in Ravenna, and it has a few of my favorite destinations in the city! Here are a few of my Ravenna neighborhood faves: 

Ravenna Park is one of those parks that’s in the city, and yet it’s easy to forget you’re even in a city. This 50-acre park has scenic trails to explore through the ravine where a picturesque stream just adds to the tranquility! I love taking my dog Cooper here; after walking through the Ravine, we head to one of the open fields so he can get out his zoomies. The park also has tennis courts, basketball courts, a softball field, playgrounds, and picnic amenities. 

Seven Coffee Roasters Market & Cafe is in a cute old house, and has patio space that faces Ravenna Boulevard. You’ll find your classic coffeeshop menu and pastries, plus a ton of other food staples and snacks you can pick up if you need ingredients and don’t feel like leaving the neighborhood. 

Third Place Books has one of their three locations in Ravenna. Of course, you can shop for books here, but there is also a cafe where you can camp out with your laptop, and grab a drink and a bite to eat. There are also events here where you can hear from and meet visiting authors. 

Ravenna Brewing Company is another great local spot to hang out at. They always have a large selection of beer on tap, and of course I love that they have a cider or two on tap, plus wine. There’s lots of seating (especially outdoors, making it a great summer hangout) and pretty much every day there’s a food truck parked here. 

With 70+ businesses, University Village is a destination for all of Seattle.

University Village has a TON of shopping, restaurants, and services. It’s the only “outdoor lifestyle shopping center,” and like I mentioned above, there are literally 70+ businesses here. There’s also lots of outdoor spaces to hang out at, so you can grab a drink or some food in between shopping to enjoy right there. 


 

Our latest listing is this Craftsman cutie in Ravenna. Click here to check out ALL of the details! 

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