Seattle, U.S.A.
Living in University District, Seattle
UW campus area. Affordable student housing, the Ave nightlife, and light rail access.
A one-bedroom in University District rents for about $1,700 - $2,100/month — a moderate area (safety 3/5), roughly 15 minutes from Seattle center by metro.
Commute to Center
15 min
metro
Safety Rating
3/5
ModerateVibe
studentsaffordablenightlife
Rent in University District
Monthly rent in USD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $1,500 - $1,800/mo | $1,700 - $2,100/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,900 - $2,300/mo | $2,200 - $2,600/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,400 - $2,900/mo | $2,700 - $3,300/mo |
How University District compares in Seattle
Within AffordWhere's Seattle dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $1,900/month — roughly 17% below the city median, and among the more affordable of the 9 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $2,200 - $2,600/month and three-bedrooms $2,700 - $3,300/month on second-hand contracts. At 15 minutes to the center by metro, it sits about as central as most Seattle areas in the set. On safety it rates 3/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the students, affordable, nightlife tags, it may suit value-conscious renters and students.
Weighing options? For a shorter commute, see Capitol Hill.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps U District as the nearest light rail stop, Building Park as nearby green space and H Mart as the nearest supermarket around the University District reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows a large number of cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in University District, Seattle?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in University District costs $1,700 - $2,100/month (second-hand contract) or $1,500 - $1,800/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $2,200 - $2,600/month, and a 3-bedroom from $2,700 - $3,300/month.
- Is University District safe for expats?
- University District has a safety rating of 3/5 (Moderate) on our scale. That is mid-scale; standard urban precautions are advisable.
- How long is the commute from University District to Seattle center?
- The commute from University District to Seattle city center takes approximately 15 minutes by metro.
- What is University District like to live in?
- UW campus area. Affordable student housing, the Ave nightlife, and light rail access. In our data it is tagged as students, affordable, nightlife.
Other neighborhoods in Seattle
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Columbia City
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Beacon Hill
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Wallingford
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