If you are a frequent flyer and you want to buy a house in the Seattle area, then you’ll likely want to choose a city or neighborhood with easy access to SeaTac International Airport. We are both frequent flyers and are well-acquainted with the ins and outs of getting to and from the airport, and living in close proximity to the airport can make all the difference!
Now, keep in mind that the cities with quick access to Sea-Tac International airport that we’ve chosen to highlight here are a few of our *favorite* affordable cities and neighborhoods. There are plenty of other cities and neighborhoods with great access as well!
Before we delve into our favorite affordable neighborhoods close to Sea-Tac, we need to address the elephant in the room: What about airport noise? If you live near the airport, aren’t you going to constantly hear noise from planes? The answer is nuanced, because yes, planes coming and going do create noise. We are always happy to share our opinions on this topic with our clients, but the best way to figure out if a neighborhood has airport noise as well as noise level is to spend some time in the neighborhood/city you’re considering living in. Some people know they want to minimize airport noise as much as possible when they buy a home, and other people won’t care!
If you’re curious to learn more about Airport noise, the Port of Seattle has a great Q&A section all about it, including info on flight paths.
Below you’ll find our favorite affordable cities with quick access to Sea-Tac International Airport, plus drive times that account for how close or far you live from the airport within the city.
Ok, let’s dive in!
Des Moines: 11-15 Minutes to Sea-Tac Airport
We love Des Moines. There is a super cute downtown area, plenty of greenspace, and some gorgeous waterfront parks like Des Moines Beach and Saltwater State Park.
In the future, the Link Light Rail will have a stop in Des Moines. The Link Light Rail is a great car-free way to get to the airport since there’s a Link stop right at the airport. The construction for the Des Moines Link Light Rail stop is slated to begin in 2025, so, it’s still a ways off, but might be something to consider!
Burien: 18-24 Minutes to the Sea-Tac Airport
Burien has it all. There’s plenty of shopping, dining, and other conveniences, and Olde Burien is an adorable downtown with restaurants, bars, and shops. We especially love that there are many homes here with fantastic views of the Puget Sound.
West Seattle: 17-25 Minutes to Sea-Tac Airport
West Seattle is a huge neighborhood with something for everyone. Just a few of our favorite things about West Seattle include Alki Beach (check out our Instagram Reel about how to spend an afternoon in Alki!), the Junction (which is home to fun shops, bars, restaurants, and an amazing farmers market), and all of the opportunities for stunning Puget Sound views.
Renton: 10-15 Minutes to Sea-Tac Airport
Not only does Renton provide a quick commute to Sea-Tac, but it also offers a reasonable commute into both Seattle and the Eastside. Renton can be a great and more affordable place to live if, say, you need to get to South Lake Union for work, and your partner needs to be on the Eastside in Downtown Bellevue (for example).
Rainier Beach: 13-18 Minutes to Sea-Tac Airport
The drive from Rainier Beach to Sea-Tac is very reasonable, but another great option here is the Rainier Beach Link Light Rail Station. Hop on the light rail and enjoy a car- and traffic-free ride straight to the airport.
Columbia City: 26-30 Minutes to Sea-Tac Airport
Columbia City is similar to Rainier Beach in that it also has its own Link Light Rail Station, and you can hop on the train straight to Sea-Tac. It’s a slightly longer drive to Sea-Tac, but still totally do-able!
Anywhere on the Link Light Rail!
Because the Link Light Rail has a stop at Sea-Tac International Airport, if you can get to a station with ease, then this is a very convenient option. Here is a list of Link Light Rail stations so you can plan!
***
Our latest home listing in Des Moines has the benefit of being just a 13-minute drive to Sea-Tac International Airport. It also has great access to Highway 99 and Interstate-5! And FWIW, the Des Moines/Kent Link Light Rail Station is just 3 minutes away and coming to this area soon-ish—it’s scheduled to open in 2026!
Click here to take a look at our latest home listing in Des Moines, Washington.