Moving to Seattle?Let's find the historic home (and neighborhood) that fits.

Capitol Hill is one of Seattle's most expressive neighborhoods. Broadway and Pike/Pine keep it buzzing, while the side streets stay leafy and residential. North Capitol Hill is home to Millionaire's Row (14th Avenue East, near Volunteer Park), its own National Register historic district, and the streets around it (plus the Harvard-Belmont Landmark District on the hill's west slope) are full of Craftsman and period homes. Queen Anne sits just above downtown with sweeping city and mountain views, from sunsets at Kerry Park to quiet streets lined with historic homes.

• Millionaire's Row and Volunteer Park
• Sunsets at Kerry Park
• Theaters, music venues and galleries
• Under 20 minutes to downtown from Queen Anne

A good fit if you want

Original details, character, and a short trip downtown or to South Lake Union.

Know before you go

For homes built before 1940, plan on a sewer scope, a close look at electrical and plumbing, and a check for a buried oil tank. Landmark districts can have their own rules.

Median home price

~$800K to $1M (all types)

Single-family

~$1.1M to $1.5M+

Condos from

~$450K

Population

~33,000 Capitol Hill · ~37,000 Queen Anne

ZIP codes

98102, 98112, 98122 · 98109, 98119

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Meany Middle & Garfield High (Capitol Hill) · McClure Middle (Queen Anne) · Seattle Prep

Magnolia sits on its own peninsula just west of Queen Anne, which keeps it quiet and residential. Discovery Park, Seattle's largest park at more than 500 acres, has beach trails and the historic West Point Lighthouse, and the bluffs along the south and west sides have some of the city's best views of the Sound and the Olympics. Magnolia Village is the small main street for coffee, groceries and dinner.

• Discovery Park and the West Point Lighthouse
• Sunsets over the Sound and the Olympics
• Magnolia Village
• The Ballard Locks just across the canal

A good fit if you want

A quiet, established neighborhood with water views and a huge park, about 15 minutes from downtown.

Know before you go

Only a few bridges get you on and off the hill, so traffic can bunch up, and view homes on the bluffs carry a premium. Bluff-edge lots also deserve a geotechnical look.

Median home price

~$1.2M to $1.35M (all types)

Single-family

~$1.35M+

Condos & townhomes

Limited inventory, ask me

Getting downtown

About 15 minutes by car

ZIP code

98199

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Lawton Elementary · Catharine Blaine K-8

Madison Park sits along the shore of Lake Washington, where tree-lined streets lead to quiet beaches, waterfront parks and some of the city's most beautiful early-1900s homes. Many properties sit on gentle hillsides with views of the lake and the mountains beyond. Madison Park has its own village feel with cafés, boutiques and a calm, walkable main street.

• Lake Washington beaches and waterfront parks
• A walkable village main street
• Lake and mountain views from the hillsides
• Established, tight-knit streets

A good fit if you want

A calm, walkable village on the water without leaving city limits.

Know before you go

It's one of Seattle's premium pockets, and homes near the lake don't come up often, so we move quickly when the right one does.

Median home price

~$2M to $2.5M (all types)

Single-family

~$2.5M+

Condos

Limited inventory, ask me

Population

~7,000

ZIP code

98112

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · McGilvra Elementary · Garfield High · The Bush School nearby

Madrona and Leschi run down the hill to Lake Washington just south of Madison Park. Madrona has a small business district along 34th Avenue with cafés and restaurants, plus a swimming beach at Madrona Park. Leschi has its own lakefront strip with a marina and Leschi Park, and Lake Washington Boulevard winds along the water through both. The streets are steep and leafy, full of early-1900s homes, many with lake or Mount Rainier views.

• Madrona Park beach
• Cafés along 34th Avenue
• The Leschi marina and lakefront
• Walks and rides on Lake Washington Boulevard

A good fit if you want

Historic homes near the lake with a real neighborhood feel, for a little less than Madison Park.

Know before you go

Many homes sit on slopes, so drainage, retaining walls and foundations are worth a close look. Lake-view homes come at a premium.

Median home price

~$1.1M to $1.2M (single-family)

Lake-view homes

Well above the median

Condos

Limited inventory, ask me

Getting downtown

About 10 to 15 minutes by car

ZIP codes

98122, 98144

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Garfield High

Mount Baker was planned in the early 1900s around parks designed by the Olmsted Brothers, and it shows: Mount Baker Park runs down a ravine to the lake, and Colman Park and Lake Washington Boulevard follow the shore. The streets are full of large Craftsman, Tudor and Colonial Revival homes, many with lake or mountain views, and they often cost less than comparable homes on Capitol Hill. The Mount Baker and Judkins Park light rail stations make it easy to get downtown or to the Eastside.

• Mount Baker Park and Colman Park
• Mount Baker Beach and the rowing and sailing center
• Lake Washington Boulevard
• Light rail at Mount Baker and Judkins Park

A good fit if you want

A large historic home with lake views, for less than Capitol Hill or Madison Park.

Know before you go

Prices and streets vary a lot across the neighborhood, so we'll look block by block, not just at the name. The pre-1940 inspection checklist applies here too.

Median home price

~$860K to $925K (all types)

Lake-view & historic homes

Typically above the median

Condos

Limited inventory, ask me

Light rail

Mount Baker & Judkins Park stations

ZIP codes

98144, 98118

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Franklin High

Ballard is shaped by its Nordic roots and a strong sense of community, and its historic district along Ballard Avenue still has its brick storefronts. Around it you'll find independent shops, local makers, a weekly farmers market and some of the city's most talked-about restaurants. Next door, Fremont is Seattle's most playful neighborhood, known for its public art, cafés and waterfront paths just north of Lake Union.

• The Ballard farmers market
• Historic Ballard Avenue
• Fremont's public art and waterfront paths
• Quick access to Lake Union and downtown

A good fit if you want

Walking to coffee, dinner and the farmers market, without a big yard to keep up.

Know before you go

There are lots of newer townhomes and condos mixed in, and single-family homes near the main streets are competitive.

Median home price

~$885K to $950K (all types)

Single-family

~$1.2M

Condos

~$450K to $650K

Population

~50,000 Ballard · ~15,000 Fremont

ZIP codes

98107, 98117 · 98103

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Whitman Middle · Ballard High

Wallingford sits on the north side of Lake Union, between Fremont and the University District. Think Craftsman bungalows and early-1900s homes on tree-lined streets, Gas Works Park at the bottom of the hill, and a main street along North 45th with cafés, restaurants and local shops. You're close to both Green Lake and Lake Union, with an easy hop downtown.

• Gas Works Park on Lake Union
• Shops and restaurants along North 45th
• Classic Craftsman homes
• Between Green Lake and Lake Union

A good fit if you want

An established, walkable neighborhood with character, a little quieter than Fremont.

Know before you go

Lots run on the smaller side and most homes are older, so the inspection matters. Homes closest to I-5 can hear it.

Median home price

~$1M to $1.05M (all types)

Single-family

~$1.25M+

Condos from

~$450K

Population

~20,000

ZIP code

98103

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Hamilton International Middle · Lincoln High

Life here revolves around the path around Green Lake: morning runs, paddleboards in summer, and neighbors you'll see every day. The surrounding streets are full of Craftsman homes and bungalows, and the Roosevelt light rail station nearby makes getting downtown or to the University of Washington easy without a car.

• The loop around the lake
• Paddleboards and rowboats in summer
• Roosevelt light rail nearby
• Craftsman homes and bungalows

A good fit if you want

An outdoor routine right outside the front door, inside the city.

Know before you go

The lake is busy on sunny weekends, and homes close to the water come at a premium.

Median home price

~$900K to $1M (all types)

Single-family

~$1.2M+

Condos from

~$400K

Population

~12,000

ZIP codes

98103, 98115

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Green Lake Elementary · Roosevelt & Lincoln High

West Seattle has a relaxed, coastal feel that sets it apart from the rest of the city. It's known for sweeping waterfront views, strong community ties and some of Seattle's favorite outdoor spaces. Alki Beach is the local favorite for long walks and sunsets across the Sound, and The Junction is the lively hub, filled with shops, restaurants and everyday conveniences.

• Alki Beach walks and sunsets
• Shops and dinner at The Junction
• Parks throughout the neighborhood
• Views of the Olympics and downtown

A good fit if you want

Beach walks and sunsets over the Sound without leaving the city.

Know before you go

Most trips off the peninsula use the West Seattle Bridge, so think about your daily route, especially if you work on the Eastside.

Median home price

~$825K to $890K (all types)

Single-family

~$1M

Condos from

~$400K

Population

~100,000

ZIP codes

98106, 98116, 98126, 98136, 98146

Schools

Seattle Public Schools · Madison Middle · West Seattle High · Chief Sealth International High

Tacoma generally offers more home for the money, a smaller-city feel and one of the region's largest collections of historic houses. The Stadium District and the North Slope are the two I point people to first: established, walkable streets with early-1900s Victorian and Craftsman homes, many with views toward Commencement Bay. Plenty of people live here and work hybrid, and the Sounder train connects Tacoma to Seattle.

• The Stadium District
• North Slope historic homes
• Views toward Commencement Bay
• The Sounder train to Seattle

A good fit if you want

A historic home with more space for the money, and a hybrid, remote or South Sound commute.

Know before you go

Driving to Seattle every day is a long haul on I-5, so Tacoma makes the most sense if you're hybrid, remote, or ride the Sounder.

Median home price

~$485K to $500K citywide

North End historic

Typically above the city median

Condos

Often under $400K

Population

~231,000

ZIP codes

98403, 98405, 98406, 98407 (North End)

Schools

Tacoma Public Schools · Stadium High · Annie Wright Schools · Charles Wright Academy

Gig Harbor started as a fishing village, and you can still feel it: the working waterfront, the historic net sheds, a downtown harbor full of boats, and Mount Rainier on clear days. It sits just across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Tacoma, so you get small-town harbor life with Tacoma's historic neighborhoods close by.

• The downtown harbor and waterfront
• Historic net sheds and maritime heritage
• Kayaking, boating and paddleboarding
• Mount Rainier views

A good fit if you want

A small harbor town on the water, with room to breathe and Tacoma close by.

Know before you go

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the main route east (with a toll heading into Tacoma), and it's a long commute to Seattle.

Median home price

~$825K to $940K

Waterfront

Well above the median

Condos

Limited inventory, ask me

Population

~13,100 city · ~68,000 greater peninsula

ZIP codes

98332, 98335, 98329

Schools

Peninsula School District · Gig Harbor High · Peninsula High

East of Issaquah on I-90, Mount Si rises right over North Bend, Snoqualmie Falls is minutes away, and the ski runs at Snoqualmie Pass are close. Historic downtown Snoqualmie and North Bend keep their small-town main streets, Snoqualmie Ridge has newer homes and parks, and Preston and the valley have acreage, horse property and room for a serious garden. I grew up on farm property with animals, so if you want land, I speak that language.

• Mount Si and Rattlesnake Ledge
• Snoqualmie Falls
• Acreage and horse property in Preston
• Snoqualmie Pass skiing nearby

A good fit if you want

Land or acreage, mountain views, and a remote or hybrid schedule.

Know before you go

It's the longest commute on this list, and some properties on the valley floor sit in flood zones, so we check the maps and insurance before you fall in love.

Median home price

~$1M to $1.2M (North Bend & Snoqualmie)

Acreage

Priced by land and location

Condos & townhomes

Limited, mostly on Snoqualmie Ridge

Population

~8,700 North Bend · ~14,500 Snoqualmie

ZIP codes

98045, 98065, 98050

Schools

Snoqualmie Valley School District · Mount Si High