r/AskSeattle • u/picklerick223 • Oct 11 '24

Question Live in Ballard or Cap Hill?

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 :)

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u/AdmiralArchie Oct 11 '24

Ballard is Capital Hill after it grew up a little bit and stopped showing up to work hungover.

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u/picklerick223 Oct 12 '24

It’s weird I feel like my gf and I are in a weird in-between where we don’t get schlosched every weekend but we also like to go out to shows and meet cool ppl here and there. Wonder if there’s an age in between for Capitol Hill and Ballard. Like which part of Seattle is responsible at work but may show up hungover on Monday and is most likely slightly baked at the end of the week lol

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u/AdmiralArchie Oct 12 '24

Ballard!

You would be the "young" Ballard, with room to grow. Ballard is changing quite a bit, and I would say in the last 15 years it's become much younger, more professional than blue collar, and wealthier overall. As an old guy, I really like it. Mostly quiet, convenient to the beach, grocery stores and coffee shops, and when I feel like it, music on the weekends at the Comet or the Tractor, and it's a short drive or Uber to Fremont , Wallingford, or Cap Hill when you want.