5 Best Seattle Neighborhoods for Black Families, Singles, & Young Professionals – Washington

With plenty of ocean and lake access, Seattle is a city with so much natural beauty. Before you set your sights on a particular home in Seattle, it’s best to get some background information. Here are the six best neighborhoods in Seattle for Black families, singles, and young professionals.

3 Best Seattle Suburbs for Black Families

Below are our top picks for the three best and safest Seattle neighborhoods for Black families. If you’re looking to move to Washington with your family, these suburbs might be the best choice for you.

Queen Anne

Queen Anne is a large neighborhood located 15 minutes northwest of downtown Seattle by car. If you’re looking for a peaceful community with an easy commute, Queen Anne might be for you!

Queen Anne is one of the historic neighborhoods of Seattle, being home to more than 29 historic Seattle sites. Queen Anne has a spattering of parks, both large and small. The large parks, like David Rogers Park, have amenities like tennis courts, playgrounds, and large fields where you can organize football or soccer games.

The Seattle Public School Board, which operates the public schools in Queen Anne, has impressive options for students of all ages.

Niche rates Coe Elementary School and John Hay Elementary School an A. Both schools have above-average test scores and an average teacher-to-student ratio of 17:1. Great for black students.

Queen Anne is also a very safe neighborhood. The violent crime rate is lower than both the national and state average. Property crime happens more than violent crime, but it’s not a noticeable issue.

Queen Anne is attached to the Seattle public transportation network, so getting downtown without a car is a breeze.

Overall, if you are after a quiet, family neighborhood with quick access to downtown, Queen Anne is perfect for you!

Laurelhurst

Laurelhurst is located northeast of downtown Seattle, and it’s only a 20 minute trip by car. As a residential neighborhood tucked away near the ocean, it’s developed a very calm and relaxed culture.

The Seattle Children’s Hospital is in Laurelhurst, which means you and your family will be able to access some of the top doctors in the state.

Although Laurelhurst is a small neighborhood, it still packs in a ton of amenities. You can check out the park at Webster Point for an idyllic picnic spot or hang out at Laurelhurst Playfield, which has tennis courts, playgrounds, and a community center.

Since Laurelhurst is a small neighborhood, it only has one public elementary school. Luckily, the Laurelhurst Elementary School is an excellent school with an overall rating of A- and a teacher-to-student ratio of 14:1.

Laurelhurst has a much lower than average violent and property crime rate. That means you rest easy knowing you and your family are in one of the safest neighborhoods in Seattle.

Madrona

Located just east of downtown Seattle, Madrona hugs Lake Washington, giving its residents some fantastic views. Being a small neighborhood, Madrona is densely packed with houses and apartments.

On a day without traffic, you can drive downtown in less than 10 minutes, making it one of the most accessible commuting locations in the city.

Madrona only has one option for parents looking for a K-5 school, Madrona Elementary School. Madrona has a B+ rating but makes up for that with their small classrooms. The average class has one teacher for every 14 students.

The overall crime rate is lower in Madrona than in the rest of Seattle, making it an ideal place to raise a family. 

There are plenty of outdoor activities you could enjoy in Madrona, like visiting the lake. The best part of Madrona is the access it gives you to the rest of the city.

You can jump on the light rail network and get downtown in less than 20 minutes. From there on, you have the opportunity to explore the rest of the city with ease!

3 Best Seattle Neighborhoods For Black Singles & Young Professionals

Seattle has neighborhood options for Black singles and young professionals as well. Even if you’re not moving with a family, check out some of the neighborhoods below.

Belltown

Located just west of downtown, Belltown is jam-packed with high-rise apartments, trendy restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.

Although Belltown is a trendy location, it’s not cheap. The average price of a home was $590,000 in 2021. Rent is expensive too, with the average cost of a one-bedroom being close to $3,000 a month.

So what do you get for such a large chunk of change? Belltown gives you access to downtown, which is less than a 5-minute walk away.

You also get to marvel at the downtown architecture, like the Space Needle and the Olympic Park.

Overall, Belltown has a higher crime rate than the rest of Seattle. This rate is primarily due to its proximity to downtown and the high rate of homelessness in the area.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is a large neighborhood located north of downtown. Encompassing an area of 1.64 square miles, Capitol Hill is one of Seattle’s most prominent neighborhoods.

Home to the historic Gay Village, Capitol Hill is the best neighborhood in Seattle to experience the local nightlife. With bars and clubs that serve everyone’s preference, you’ll find a favorite in no time!

Capitol Hill has a younger population, with an average age of 35. Even with such a young population, Capitol Hill is home to many of the most wealthy neighborhoods in Seattle.

In Capitol Hill, the average price of a home is a steep $750,000, while rent isn’t much better. On average, the rent for a one-bedroom is $2,100 a month.

Although it’s an expensive area, Capitol Hill has all the amenities a young professional could want. Abundant outdoor spaces, endless restaurants and bars, and a relatively quiet location mean you can enjoy the neighborhood at your own pace.

Eastlake

Eastlake is a tiny, quiet neighborhood tucked away beside the much larger community of Capitol Hill. Although it’s small, the community is primarily apartments, so there’s still plenty of people.

Eastlake is a popular place for young people who want access to downtown but want to be far enough away, so their home life is calm and without interruption.

Eastlake is also a relatively safe neighborhood. The violent crime rate, to be fair, is below the national average, but property crime is higher. The property crime rate is higher due to the high rate of homelessness in Seattle.

With access to the lake, Eastlake is a perfect place for someone who likes boating or fishing. The average home price in Eastlake was $760,000 in 2021, making it a pricey neighborhood. Most of Seattle’s neighborhoods have experienced an enormous increase in their home prices in recent years.

So, if you’re in the market for a home away from the city but still have numerous activities for you to enjoy, consider Eastlake!

Is Seattle Safe?

Before anyone decides to move to a city, one of the first things they think of is safety. Luckily for you, both Seattle and Washington state are exceptionally safe compared to the rest of the USA.

Washington ranks as the 8th most peaceful state in the entire country. Washington also ranks below the national average on reported violent crimes, with a rate of 294 incidents per 100,000 residents.

As the largest city in Washington, Seattle has a higher crime rate than the rest of the state, which is to be expected. Like Chicago and New York, large cities also have higher crime rates than the rest of their states.

You can rest assured knowing Seattle is a safe community for you and your family.

What is Seattle’s Demographic?

Seattle is mainly made up of white people, with Asian people making up the most significant minority in the city.

White people make up 64% of the population, while Black, African American people make up only 7% of the population.

These demographics are changing quickly, though. Asian and Latino immigration rates are high, making the city more and more diverse each year.

The biggest age group in Seattle is 20 to 29-year-olds, making the city among the youngest in the nation. They make up over 20% of the population, while 30 to 39-year-olds are the next largest age group.

Top Seattle Neighborhoods For Black Families, Conclusion

The Pacific Northwest has many attractive qualities for black families. As the biggest city in the area, Seattle is one of the gems you can discover. In Seattle, there’s a neighborhood that can fit you and your family’s needs. So what are you waiting for? If you’re looking for a safe city, Seattle is for you!