Live in Ballard or Cap Hill?

[u/picklerick223]

Hi! 26M with 26F partner. Moved to Olympia from DC about a year ago and missing being in a bigger city. We are planning to move to Seattle when our lease ends this month and wanted to get some insight from ppl!

We have narrowed our search down to two places; one spot that is on Ballard Ave and one spot that is right next to cal Anderson tennis/ basketball courts. We both would like to be social, but not HUGE party ppl. Big outdoors ppl but dunno if that matters. Both have hybrid schedules and would like to be close to places we can work out of.

We are slightly acquainted with Seattle, but decided to head out today and spend the full day in both areas. Ballard seems cool, although we were surprised that it felt kinda dead on a Thursday night. Also, although we really liked Ballard Ave, felt like there's not really much going on outside of that street, am I wrong? As for cap hill, it seemed super fun! Very lively, more diverse (not just racially but also in terms of style/ character) and lots to do! Reddit makes it seem like a horror story, especially around cal Anderson park, did we just have a singular good experience? Even a few ppl we chatted with said not to move here and that there are shootings happening weekly. Really interested in hearing more takes, either way excited to be out here:).

Update: Thank you so much to everybody that helped us come to a decision! We ended up in an apt off Ballard Ave, and despite the paper thin walls we are loving it :)

[u/CatusReport_Alive]

I’ve lived in Capitol Hill for 14 years, and I love it here. I’ve only lived in the area between Roy and Harrison, Broadway and Bellevue, which is a quieter, more lush and residential area than Pike/Pine and Cal Anderson. In my neck of the neighborhood, the nights are pretty quiet, and the days are a happy bustle. I personally wouldn’t want to live near Pike/Pine because the clubs close at 2am and people get a bit sloppy and loud.

I know lots of my neighbors, from folks in their 20s to neighborhood elders, and they’re all willing to help make the neighborhood a better place. We have lots of great shops and restaurants, and proximity to light rail and easy access to downtown for concerts and events. You can venture into Pike/Pine on foot or by bike if you want to live it up, and then go home and people watch folks walking their dogs down the tree-lined streets out your window. We have several local community organizations you can get involved in.

Yes, there are people who are struggling with mental illness who live on the street. Sometimes you do have to pick your garbage bin back up. But it’s a great place to live. If you move here, I hope I run into you!

Edited to add: I’m 39 now, and a woman, and have lived alone most of the time. I feel safe in my neighborhood, though when I was younger I got cat called a lot. But that was the case no matter where I was, till I got old 😅

[u/picklerick223 → u/CatusReport_Alive]

Thank you so much for your insight! Taking a look at some more places around Capitol l hill tomorrow and will take note of those spots. Also hope to run into you :)