5 houses in Seattle, Washington, one of the U.S.'s most livable and greenest cities
This four bedroom, three-bath craftsman was built in 1920 and is in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood.
Redfin via MLS
If you're looking for a city with high marks for livability, you might want to consider heading to the Pacific Northwest. A recent U.S. News & World Report roundup ranked Seattle the ninth best city to live in the U.S. in 2019, thanks to its strong job market and all-around desirability. Several major corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing call the city home, and thanks in part to its infamously rainy winter weather, it's one of the greenest cities in the country, with spaces like the sprawling 534-acre Discovery Park, Green Lake Park, and 20-acre Kubota Garden, a Japanese garden in Rainier Park.
The Emerald City is green in more than one way—according to a recent report from the Carbon Disclosure Project, Seattle was one of only a few cities in the country to earn an "A" ranking for effectively mitigating its carbon footprint. The city has long been celebrated for its sustainability, earning high marks on everything from sustainable food to infrastructure. The city's also got a killer food scene, offering up far too many good restaurants to list here, along with a slew of high-end and dive bars and a much better selection of Pho than you'd find here in New York (I've tried). Seattle's Chinatown-International district offers a wealth of eateries, bubble tea shops, and Asian supermarkets. And of course, there's Seattle's coffee scene—roasters like Lighthouse Roasters, Victrola Coffee Roasters, Caffe Vita, Elm Coffee, and Espresso Vivace hawk the good stuff at cafes all over town.
Seattle's real estate scene is notoriously expensive, in no small part due to Amazon's massive growth over the last decade. But according to a recent report from Redfin, the city's starting to see a decrease in prices, and more properties are on the market, making the quest for housing a little more manageable. Here's a taste of what's out there.
4711 Meridian Ave N., Wallingford
The priciest option on this list, this four-bedroom, three-bath Craftsman is located in Wallingford, a high-end residential neighborhood in north central Seattle that's popular with young professionals and families. The house was built in 1920 and features a number of vintage touches, including wood-wrapped windows, crown molding, and an original Batchelder fireplace in the living room. Other highlights include an updated gourmet kitchen (with a blue stove) and a lovely backyard with a patio, and a lofted area with its own deck. The house is priced at $1,149,500.
411 Summit Ave. E. Apt. C, Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is a lot like the West Village—it's long been home to Seattle's LGBTQ community, in addition to counterculture shops, bars, and other services, but in the last few years, its popularity has brought prices up. Still, there's some nice real estate here, like this two-bedroom, four-bath townhouse on Summit Ave. E. The multilevel building has a sprawling living space on the main floor, with floor-to-ceiling corner windows, a private patio, and a sleek kitchen outfitted with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Other highlights include the master suite, which takes up the entire second level, and a private bedroom with a deck on the fourth floor. The unit is priced at $948,880.
17 Mercer St., Apt. 109, Uptown Queen Anne
This one-bedroom, one-bath condo in Uptown Queen Anne features nine-foot ceilings, a balcony, and a modern kitchen with a breakfast bar. Other highlights include a fireplace and a shared rooftop deck with a view of the Space Needle. Queen Anne is home to the Space Needle, in addition to a number of funky cafes, independent shops, and 19th century houses. It's also not far from Discovery Park. The unit is priced at $438,998.
2203 NW 63rd St., Ballard
This two-bedroom, two-bath townhouse was built in 2018, and features a two-story wall of windows, a cozy kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and a master suite with a soaking tub. Other highlights include a funky floating staircase and a rooftop deck. The house is located in Ballard, a formerly Scandinavian fishing neighborhood full of great seafood restaurants, a smattering of bars, a great Sunday farmer's market, and slightly more affordable housing. The unit is priced at $749,950.
3626 Winslow Pl. N., Fremont
Fremont is famously home to the concrete Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge, but it's also home to coffee shops, a slew of parks, great restaurants, bookstores, and Fremont Brewing, a brewery that tends to double as a local hang. This two-bed, two-bath townhouse has a gas fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple balconies, and a vaulted ceiling with a skylight. There's also a cute little patio and a kitchen outfitted with slab granite countertops and custom-built cherry cabinets. The house is priced at $700,000.
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