Seattle Culture

The Best Seattle Area Neighborhoods Near Light Rail

The Link light rail is growing, with extensions planned in Seattle and Eastside neighborhoods. Our handy guide shows you the best places to live close to current and future light rail stations

By Hallie Golden and Niki Stojnic, with Emma Franke March 5, 2019

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This article originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the March 2019 issue, as part of the 21 Hot Neighborhoods cover story. Click here to subscribe.

Building cranes. Multiplying fourplexes. Teardowns. Block-size apartment buildings. High-rise condos. The signs of growth are all around us—including the sweeping arch of Link light rail, which is sprouting extensions in Seattle and Eastside neighborhoods.

In the face of ever-growing traffic snarls, locals are crowding on board this transportation system like never before. So, it’s not too surprising that neighborhoods near Link stations—both stations that already exist and those soon to open—are the secret sweet spots in today’s real estate market. Ready to make a move? Here’s where to go.

North Seattle 

Bellevue and Redmond

South Seattle

Downtown

SeaTac

Plus: Seattle’s Condo Comeback

Neighborhood snapshot sources: Boundaries, listed in order of north, south, east and west, determined by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, and city websites. Median home price and appreciation between November 2017 and November 2018, Zillow.com; zip codes are used when Zillow hasn’t defined a specific neighborhood. Walkability by walkscore.com. Schools and ratings, GreatSchools.org

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