Seattle/Compare
Northeast vs University District
Northeast and University District are two official districts in Seattle. Northeast is the calmer Part I map (42 vs 37). Northeast wins the errand count. University District has the lower ACS median ($1,781).
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 | Northeast | University District |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 42 | 37 |
| Schools | 94 | 48 |
| Walk | 50 | 31 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 45 | 28 |
| Median rent | $2,214 | $1,781 |
| Median home | $1,141,764 | $1,016,152 |
| Population | 37,665 | 31,358 |
| Commute to Downtown | 24 min | 18 min |
| Commute to South Lake Union | 20 min | 14 min |
| Commute to University | 12 min | 6 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Northeast | University District |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 33% | 90% |
| Median age | 38.2 | 23 |
| Median income | $173K | $52K |
| Part I per 1k | 46.4 | 51.5 |
| Groceries / 800m | 17 | 18 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 187 | 111 |
| Parks / 800m | 172 | 43 |
| 311 last 14 days | 559 | 497 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Seattle city. Up 79% since 2014. NE is 9% above the 2024 city median. U District is 12% 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 Northeast if the school rating nearby is the point and you want the errands on foot. Schools score 94 vs 48. Walk is 50 vs 31. Vibe is 45 vs 28. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick University District if the rent gap is the point and the shorter ride to Downtown is the point. ACS median rent is $1,781 vs $2,214. 18 vs 24 minutes to Downtown. Read both pages before you decide.
Northeast
Ravenna, Wedgwood, Laurelhurst — one official polygon east of the Ave. Tree streets, University Village at the edge, and a quieter read than the District next door.
$2,214 median rent · safety 42 · walk 50
University District
The Ave, the campus, and a median income that student households pull down. Light rail now. It is a neighborhood you age out of, or a neighborhood you never leave because of the bus.
$1,781 median rent · safety 37 · walk 31
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Northeast or University District?
University District is the lower ACS median: $2,214 vs $1,781. About 90% rent in University District vs 33% in Northeast. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Northeast more walkable than University District?
Northeast wins the errand count (walk 50 vs 31). Groceries inside 800 meters: 17 vs 18. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Northeast or University District?
Northeast is the calmer Part I read (42 vs 37). Combined rate 46.4 vs 51.5 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Northeast or University District?
Northeast leads the school axis (94 vs 48). Nearby rating is 8.4 / 10 vs 7.0 / 10. Median age 38.2 vs 23. University District has more of the night. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
24 minutes from Northeast to Downtown, 18 from University District. University District is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official district that is not Northeast or University District: Lake City. Lake City Way is the strip; Matthews Beach is the water. North-end practical — more car than Ballard, cheaper than the lake-adjacent northeast.
Scores are relative among official Seattle Neighborhood Map Atlas districts with the same editorial weights. Read the method.