We are both a bit biased when it comes to Seattle’s Central Area neighborhood—we both have lived here for many years now, and we love it. This aptly named community really does have it all; excellent transit and commuting options, a variety of popular dining options, gorgeous parks (including waterfront destinations), cute little business districts that each have their own unique character, and that’s only the beginning.
If you’re thinking about moving to Seattle’s Central neighborhood (or any Seattle neighborhood for that matter), it’s time to start neighborhood dating! We always recommend this to our clients who are getting ready to buy a home. Neighborhood dating is pretty much like it sounds—you need to “try on” a community to see if it’s the right fit. You’ll find all of our advice in our “dating” guide here: Try Before You Buy: How to Pick the Right Neighborhood for You
In this post, we are sharing our guide to living in this much-loved area of Seattle. And if you have any questions, we’re always happy to chat.
What Neighborhoods Are Included in Seattle’s Central Area?
Like most neighborhoods, there are many different opinions as to where a neighborhood begins and ends. And within larger neighborhoods, there are also micro-neighborhoods.
Central Area includes neighborhoods like Central District*, Judkins Park, Atlantic, Leschi, Madrona, Harrison/Denny-Blaine, Madison Valley (it’s on the border and about half of it is in Central Area), Cherry Hill, and Squire Park. Those are the main ones.
*Central Area is not to be confused with the Central District; while the Central District is in the Central Area, it’s its own smaller, distinct neighborhood in the heart of Central Area. (Haha… does that make sense?!)
What Is It Like to Commute From Seattle’s Central Area Neighborhood?
This neighborhood is a total commuter’s dream. It’s, uh, very central! ;-P But in all seriousness, Central Area is not a misnomer. A few popular destinations for commuters include areas like Downtown, First Hill, South Lake Union, University District, Fremont, and cities on the Eastside (especially Redmond and Bellevue), and Central Area provides easy access to all of these places whether you are driving or taking advantage of public transit.
In fact, there are so many transit options here that you could easily be car-free in this neighborhood. For starters, several major bus lines run through the neighborhood on a frequent schedule. There’s also the First Hill line of the Seattle Streetcar, which runs on the westernmost edge of Central (and you really would need to live on the western side of Central for the streetcar to be useful).
If you want to use the Link light rail from Central, you have a couple of options. If you live along the First Hill/Capitol Hill border, then the Capitol Hill Station is close enough to use. And if you’re in the southern area of Central, then the Judkins Park Station (opening in 2025!) is going to be amazing for you! Located at the center of I-90, this station connects the Seattle side of the Link light rail to the Eastside (with stops in Downtown Bellevue, Microsoft, etc.).
The major perk of the Link light rail is the fact that it offers a traffic-free option, whereas the buses and streetcar deal with car traffic as well. The Link light rail also goes all the way to SeaTac International Airport, offering a budget-friendly and traffic-free ride to your flight!
For quick reference, here’s a map of all of the transit options provided by King County Metro in the Central Area. The map itself is pretty overwhelming (and we recommend simply using Google maps to plan your journey), but it gives you an idea of all of your options.
And finally, Central is a fantastic location for car commuters. You can easily hop on Interstate-5 or Interstate-90, or scoot up through the backside of Capitol Hill to the 520 Bridge. (Our latest listing in the Central Area also comes with its own dedicated parking spot, so you never have to drive around looking for street parking.)
For even more in-depth commuting info, we have an in-depth blog post that’s specifically about commuting from Judkins Park in the Central Area. Click here: Judkins Park is One of the Best Seattle Neighborhoods for Seattle and Eastside Commutes
What Do Locals Love Most About Living in Central?
As you already know, the Central Area is made up of many different smaller neighborhoods, and each area has its own charm. But here are a few of the big things locals love:
- Lake Washington waterfront: Ride your bike along Lake Washington Boulevard, find a spot to sunbathe or swim at one of the many waterfront parks, and just enjoy the view! If you have a boat, there’s also moorage here.
- Parks: There is no shortage of parks in Seattle, and Central is home to some especially gorgeous parks with fun amenities. Explore the trails that run through the heavily wooded Leschi Park and Frink Park, and head to Judkins Park and Playfield to find a playground, picnic amenities, a skatepark, sport courts, and the I-90 trail that connects to Jimi Hendrix Park, Sam Smith Park, and more. In addition to all of this, there are dozens of smaller parks sprinkled throughout the neighborhood that are perfect for walking your dog, enjoying a picnic, and meeting your neighbors.
- Dining: You’ll find destination dining, cute coffee shops, and lively bars throughout the neighborhood. We are both partial to Madrona; Bottlehouse, Vendemmia, and Red Cow (and many other restaurants) are all in the charming “downtown” area. You’ve also got waterfront dining with mainstays like Daniel’s Broiler and BluWater Bistro. Head to Jackson Ave to find places like Jackson’s Catfish Corner, Standard Brewing, and Temple Pastries. And whatever you do, don’t miss out on everything at Union & 23rd! Communion (Seattle Met’s Restaurant of the Year 2021), Tacos Chukis, Jerk Shack, Raised Doughnuts, Lowrider Cookie, Feed Co. Burgers are all must-try spots.
How Much Does It Cost to Live in the Central Area of Seattle?
This is a big can of worms! But we’ll do our best to answer it broadly, just to give you a starting point.
Below you’ll find the median home price for just a few of the neighborhoods within the Central Area as of Spring 2024. All of these stats are courtesy of Neighborhood Scout, which organizes these neighborhoods differently than the average Seattleite probably would. So if you want to see the numbers for yourself based on their specific criteria, click here. It’s interesting!
As you check out these median home prices, know that there is a LOT of variation to this. These numbers are just averages, and this is going to vary a lot whether you’re buying a condo, a townhome, a single-family home, new construction, a fixer upper, etc.
- Atlantic = $763,914
- Central District = $1,029,928
- Squire Park = $1,032,484
- Leschi = $1,534,413
- Madrona = $1,956,149
What Types of Homes Are in Seattle’s Central Area?
There’s a little bit of almost everything! You’ll find gorgeous historic homes, waterfront mansions, modern townhomes, Craftsman homes, a few condos, and much more!
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Our latest listing is this Central Area townhouse with absolutely incredible views of Downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, the mountains, and more!
