Capitol hill v/s Wallingford (Seattle: apartment, to rent, condos)

[caravan]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I recently moved to the area, and we're currently staying at my mother-in-law's in the Northern suburbs of Seattle. I have been looking for a job for the last couple of months and finally found one at Microsoft. Now, we're planning to move to Seattle itself, and wondering where would be a good place to move to! (I want to be in Seattle instead of the Eastside because, well, I'm just a city guy )

I intend to take the Microsoft connector bus as I don't like driving (and certainly not during rush hour), plus I would be able to get some work done during the commute.

We've got it narrowed down to two neighborhoods: Wallingford and Capitol Hill. The Wallingford connector bus stops are basically around Stone Way N and 45th, and 45th and Bagley. The capitol hill stops I am interested in are on 19th and Mercer, and 16th and Denny.

Basically I would like to be living in a place 5-10 minutes walk from those stops. And be similarly close to a walkable commercial neighborhood core. That seems to be 45th street in Wallingford, and 15th Ave (and a little bit of 19th Ave) in cap hill.

I've visited those areas and they both seem nice, but I was wondering if anyone had input on them, in particular regarding:
- Overall pleasantness
- Noise
- Coffee shops
- Walkability
- Nightlife
- Safety
- Cost
- Ease of access to other parts of town by bus

We are both in our late twenties, and with no kids. We want to rent a 1 (or perhaps 2) bedroom apartment.

Thanks!

[Heiwos]

Those places are both good in my book. I'd take Capitol Hill. Probably less safety, but shouldn't be an issue if you don't venture out too late. Noise shouldn't be much of a problem somewhere off 15th. I'd stay close to 15th, so you could easily walk to Broadway and beyond. Should cost more, because it's a better location with better access to other parts of town, including by bus. Nightlife should be better; e.g. from 15th you could walk to the Paramount, which has acts like Seinfeld. Coffee shops include the best anywhere IMO, Stumptown at 12th & Madison and another one on Pike St., plus Victrola on 15th which is pretty good. Overall pleasantness for me includes great parks (namely Cal Anderson and Volunteer), views, and restaurants. I think Wallingford is nice too but the best part is a lot smaller, and it's not as central to everything else. I don't know of any great coffee there.

[Ira500]

I'm with Heiwos. I like them both, and I prefer Capitol Hill, with a couple of caveats.
Broadway is kind of scuzzy, 15th is nicer, and 19th has less retail, but is also pleasant.
West of Broadway seems to have younger residents and is more densely populated, maybe less safe, and maybe noisier. The further east and north you go on Capitol Hill, the more quiet and pleasant.
So if it were me I'd look between 15th and 19th...Trader Joes is at 17th and Madison, so that's an additional draw.

[eskercurve]

I would choose Wallingford because of its proximity to the zoo and Green Lake. In Green Lake there is awesome coffee at Zoka.

I dunno, I find Capitol Hill to be too eclectic and if I had kids I wouldn't let them roam around at night around there, but that's just me.

[happiestever]

My votes for Wallingford. Seems a bit cleaner to me.

[Ira500]

Overall I'd agree that Wallingford is cleaner than Capitol Hill. But North Capitol Hill, from Volunteer Park north and east is just gorgeous. The housing prices also reflect that.

[Hamza]

Both are nice areas but if you want to be part of the city, it's Cap Hill, no contest. Wallingford is great but you're pretty far removed from the action.

[caravan]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone .

[Jennibc]

I lived both places and I preferred Capital Hill, it was a lot livelier and the people watching was way better. Of course my caveat is last time I lived on Capital Hill it was 1988.

[secret_squirrel]

Cap Hill has historically been gay and freak-friendly. Broadway was a haven for street kids. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing. It's eclectic.

After spending a lot of time on the hill 5 years ago, I was surprised to revisit it lately. The vibe is changing. Old blocks are cleared and being rebuilt with typical Seattle brick box-condos with street level retail. I was at the new Dillitante Cafe on the north end of Broadway and it was full of mid-upper 20s hipsters with nary visible body modification.

The hill is intransition. But it is super convienent to all things downtown and has a mix of clubs, restaurants and cafes. I like Wallingford, but you still need to get over a bridge (which can be a PITA during traffic). I'm mid-30s and would prefer Queen Anne over both. The hill is grittier.