Seattle/Compare
Central Area vs Greater Duwamish
Central Area and Greater Duwamish are two official districts in Seattle. Central Area is the calmer Part I map (26 vs 0). Central Area wins the errand count. Central Area has the lower ACS median ($1,952).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · SPD Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · OSM Sep 2026 · updated Sep 2026
Scores
Fit axes among official Seattle Neighborhood Map Atlas districts.
| Axis | Central Area | Greater Duwamish |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 26 | 0 |
| Schools | 35 | 0 |
| Walk | 44 | 38 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 31 | 19 |
| Median rent | $1,952 | $1,991 |
| Median home | $919,123 | $652,184 |
| Population | 33,472 | 8,627 |
| Commute to Downtown | 14 min | 14 min |
| Commute to South Lake Union | 16 min | 18 min |
| Commute to University | 18 min | 24 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Central Area | Greater Duwamish |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 66% | 53% |
| Median age | 33 | 36.3 |
| Median income | $117K | $110K |
| Part I per 1k | 53.9 | 144.2 |
| Groceries / 800m | 20 | 17 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 193 | 219 |
| Parks / 800m | 101 | 40 |
| 311 last 14 days | 852 | 661 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Seattle city. Up 79% since 2014. CD is 4% below the 2024 city median. Duwamish is 2% below the 2024 city median.
Overlapping 5-year ACS windows (B25064), not asking rent. Census does not publish a rent series for each official neighborhood, so the line is the city place. Dashed marks are each area’s ACS 2024 median.
Which to pick
The same numbers as the table, in sentences. Nobody wins the city.
Pick Central Area if the school rating nearby is the point and the quieter map matters more than the scene. Schools score 35 vs 0. Safety is 26 vs 0. Vibe is 31 vs 19. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick Greater Duwamish if you want the cafes and the night. Vibe is 19 vs 31. Read both pages before you decide.
Central Area
The CD on the map, Madrona and Leschi on the lake edge. Older Seattle — churches, new infill, and a name people still argue about.
$1,952 median rent · safety 26 · walk 44
Greater Duwamish
Georgetown’s bars sit inside an industrial official district. SODO and the port set the noise. A relocator list that skipped this polygon would be lying about the map.
$1,991 median rent · safety 0 · walk 38
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Central Area or Greater Duwamish?
Central Area is the lower ACS median: $1,952 vs $1,991. About 66% rent in Central Area vs 53% in Greater Duwamish. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Central Area more walkable than Greater Duwamish?
Central Area wins the errand count (walk 44 vs 38). Groceries inside 800 meters: 20 vs 17. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Central Area or Greater Duwamish?
Central Area is the calmer Part I read (26 vs 0). Combined rate 53.9 vs 144.2 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Central Area or Greater Duwamish?
Central Area leads the school axis (35 vs 0). Nearby rating is 6.6 / 10 vs 5.5 / 10. Median age 33 vs 36.3. Greater Duwamish has more of the night. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
14 minutes from Central Area to Downtown, 14 from Greater Duwamish. A wash on this estimate. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official district that is not Central Area or Greater Duwamish: Beacon Hill. The ridge above I-5 with a light-rail spine. Jefferson Park is the lawn; downtown is a short train, not a short walk.
Scores are relative among official Seattle Neighborhood Map Atlas districts with the same editorial weights. Read the method.