Safe but not popular areas to live in and around Seattle (apartments, rent)

[Salmonista]

Have you checked out Burien? The commuter bus options are good to downtown (route 121, 122, 123). If you live close to SW 152nd St, you're near a number of shops and restaurants. There is a Trader Joe's in Burien, too. Rents are affordable. I like to think of it as an up-and-coming neighborhood

[Sofie W]

I presently live in the Dallas, Texas area and am considering moving to Seattle within the next three or four months. I may be spoiled here with the value I am getting from my present rental... a yard (fenced in) full garage, large rooms and closets, all well under Seattle pricing/rentals for the same offerings. The sticker prices for rentals (not ready to buy yet) for Washington have me in a state of shock! Way too high for many that are, in my opinion, low in quality and condition. I want to be near Seattle, but within easy commute, with public transportation and car. Any suggestions? I simply do not want to have an exorbitant monthly rent.... two thousand and up are not my cup of tea; oh, and I have a dog!

[amaiunmei]

If you are coming from the Northeast, then rents will seem pretty cheap.

If you are coming to Seattle from the Southeast or Midwest (or Texas), however, rent will be quite a bit more. Like, double your rent now and that will give you some idea of what your current standard of living will cost in the Seattle area.

You can get cheap, or you can get close to Seattle. You pretty much can't get both anymore; the influx of highly-paid Amazon/Microsoft/other tech workers has more or less extinguished that as a possibility. Suburbs on the north end (Lynnwood and Bothell) or on the south end (Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, Tacoma, etc.) are a lot less expensive and you may want to investigate whether those places will be options for you.

[krieger00]

Originally Posted by amaiunmei

If you are coming from the Northeast, then rents will seem pretty cheap.

If you are coming to Seattle from the Southeast or Midwest (or Texas), however, rent will be quite a bit more. Like, double your rent now and that will give you some idea of what your current standard of living will cost in the Seattle area.

You can get cheap, or you can get close to Seattle. You pretty much can't get both anymore; the influx of highly-paid Amazon/Microsoft/other tech workers has more or less extinguished that as a possibility. Suburbs on the north end (Lynnwood and Bothell) or on the south end (Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, Tacoma, etc.) are a lot less expensive and you may want to investigate whether those places will be options for you.

Rent in Seattle is more or less one pay check for a one bedroom by the time you pay utilities. I would stay away from Lynnwood and white center and Federal Way that is just me.

[skidamarink]

Wedgewood, Sandpoint, Montlake, Eastlake, Madison Park, Maple Leaf/Greenlake area...there are actually a lot of sleepy, safe, family-dominated neighborhoods in Seattle. But you can start by researching those neighborhoods and then ask us more detailed questions about what you're looking for. You can probably get a studio or one bedroom in one of these neighborhoods for less than $1000/mo, except for maybe Madison Park I think that's more expensive.

[skidamarink]

Originally Posted by adoreclaire

How about Ballard? I think they are pretty affordable, or even U District or Queen Anne?

lol U District. That's probably the LAST place the OP wants to live.

[sofewnamestocho]

I agree Renton has some nice areas and is affordable. I hope not to offend anybody here, but from my experiences I'd say avoid Skyway.

This is a rather long shot here but Tacoma is very affordable. It is a long commute to Seattle, but there is a Sounder train (though it runs a fairly limited schedule.) You could probably find a two bedroom in your price range pretty easily. Parts of Tacoma should certainly be avoided-Hilltop, much of South Tacoma is iffy, and South East Tacoma is generally thought to be bad, but I lived there and did OK. But with your budget, you could get a nice place in a great neighborhood-think North End, Stadium District, right near Wright Park, close to the train station. Something to think about, but I do think that commute would be too long.

[NewbiePoster]

Originally Posted by Firion

Maple Leaf/Northgate area is very safe and you can find cheap apartments there.

You beat me to it! Maple Leaf is safe, quiet, beautiful, family-oriented, and well-served by transit. The areas around Northgate and 15th Ave. NE, just east of Northgate, are all that and more, plus a little more affordable. You could try the area around Discovery Park, too, for safety. I don't know if there are condos around there.

[NewbiePoster]

Originally Posted by skidamarink

lol U District. That's probably the LAST place the OP wants to live.

Not safe. There may be some more affordable apt. buildings around there, closer to the freeway, but they'd be mostly student-occupied, and noisy. Not a good enviro for kids. Ravenna or University Village could work, though. And try Lake Forest Park.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by sofewnamestocho

I agree Renton has some nice areas and is affordable. I hope not to offend anybody here, but from my experiences I'd say avoid Skyway.

This is a rather long shot here but Tacoma is very affordable. It is a long commute to Seattle, but there is a Sounder train (though it runs a fairly limited schedule.) You could probably find a two bedroom in your price range pretty easily. Parts of Tacoma should certainly be avoided-Hilltop, much of South Tacoma is iffy, and South East Tacoma is generally thought to be bad, but I lived there and did OK. But with your budget, you could get a nice place in a great neighborhood-think North End, Stadium District, right near Wright Park, close to the train station. Something to think about, but I do think that commute would be too long.

I thought I heard somewhere that the Hilltop had become a lot nicer. Is that wrong? Last time I was there, maybe 15 years ago, it was rough.
As far as Skyway, it's pretty bad for six or seven blocks. But you go less than a mile away, and it's really nice.
The zipcode scares people away . They associate it with Skyway, but it also includes places with big yards and spectacular views of the lake or Mt. Rainier.