I’m Relocating to Seattle for Amazon or Tech — Where the Hell Do I Live?

Part 1: A Boots-on-the-Ground Neighborhood Overview

A no-nonsense look at Seattle neighborhoods, demographics, commute, and reality from a 40-year top Seattle managing broker, Corporate Relocation Director, and founder of Seattle Premier Properties.

If you’re relocating to Seattle for Amazon or another tech job, welcome. Great pay, long hours, high expectations — and one immediate problem:

Where the hell do you live?

Seattle is expensive, compact, hilly, and deceptively small. And unlike most cities, choosing the “wrong” neighborhood doesn’t just cost you money — it costs you time, sanity, and resale leverage.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series breaking Seattle down the way locals actually experience it, not how relocation brochures pretend it works.

First: Understand the Geography (Seattle Is Smaller Than You Think)

Compared to other major U.S. cities, Seattle is shockingly compact.

You can literally walk the city in about 40 minutes — from Lumen Field (Seahawks & Mariners) in the east to Seattle Center / Climate Pledge Arena (Kraken & Storm) in the west.

Downtown sits between:

• Elliott Bay / Pike Place Market to the south

• Lake Union / Google/Seattle Premiere Properties to the north

And it’s sandwiched between two hills that matter more than anything else in this town:

• Capitol Hill

• Queen Anne

(If you haven’t read my post “Best Hills to Ski Downtown Seattle”, you should — it’ll make sense quickly.)

Amazon, the Gates Foundation, Google, Apple, Climate Pledge Arena, and Seattle Center are all clustered within walking distance. And yes — Queen Anne is the safest walk home after one too many cocktails. Trust me… I’ve field-tested this extensively.

The Big Relocation Reality Check

You’ve got a tech job offer. You’re working long hours. You want:

• Convenience

• Safety

• A manageable commute

• And something that won’t destroy your exit strategy in 3–5 years

Seattle consistently ranks among the most expensive U.S. cities and has one of the worst commute profilesnationwide. Translation: where you live matters more here than almost anywhere else.

Capitol Hill / First Hill (“Pill Hill”)

Let’s start with the most misunderstood.

Capitol Hill — especially First Hill, often called “Pill Hill” — is home to several of the largest hospitals in Washington, all within walking distance. As a result, it has:

• The highest concentration of apartments and rentals

• The most transient population

• Thousands of shops, bars, restaurants, and noise

It’s urban, dense, energetic, and for some people — perfect.

But here’s the part relocation guides skip:
Go just north, near Volunteer Park and the Arboretum, and Capitol Hill transitions almost instantly into some of the largest turn-of-the-century architectural homes in Seattle.

Same zip code. Totally different world.

Queen Anne Hill (“Amazon North”)

Queen Anne is hands-down the most sought-after residential neighborhood near downtown. Locals sometimes call it “Amazon North” for a reason.

Here’s the typical pattern I see every year:

1. Amazon employee relocates

2. Buys a downtown condo (usually overpays)

3. Meets someone, wants privacy / pets / space

4. Moves to The Hill

Queen Anne offers:

• Quiet residential streets

• Top public and private schools

• Parks, views, and real neighborhood life

• A strong 30- to 50-something professional vibe

Most retail, bakeries, and nationally ranked restaurants are confined to four main arterials, leaving the interior streets peaceful and residential — with commanding views of:

• Downtown Seattle

• Lake Union & Lake Washington

• Elliott Bay & the islands

• Mt. Rainier

• Olympic & Cascade Mountain ranges

And yes — it’s an easy walk to Amazon and the Gates Foundation. I do it almost daily.

The Cost of Entry (Real Numbers, Not Marketing Stats)

In 2025 reality (not MLS fantasy):

• $1.2M+ for a basic 3-bedroom cottage

• ~$650/SF basic

• ~$750/SF remodeled / turnkey

The upside?
With even conservative 4% annual appreciation, many tech buyers sell in 3–4 years and walk away with a profit — assuming they bought correctly in the first place.

Want More Space for the Money?

If you don’t need walkability and can hold 5–7 years, other strong options include:

• Madrona

• Montlake

• Leschi
  (Yes — in Seattle you’ll get used to neighborhoods named after trees and Native American tribes.)

These are quieter, residential, close to downtown — just not walkable.

Magnolia

Magnolia sits west of Queen Anne and feels like its calmer cousin:

• Larger lots

• Older resident base

• Fences, yards, space

• Discovery Park (one of the best urban parks in the country, with trails to the beach)

It’s still a short commute — and yes, the SLUT (South Lake Union Trolley) is a real thing. Welcome to Seattle.

The Typical Arc (I’ve Seen This Movie 100 Times)

Most of my relocation clients follow a version of this path:

• Buy a downtown condo

• Move to Queen Anne

• Buy a house

• Have kids

• Buy a bigger house

• Stay — or move to Magnolia to spread out

And often?
They keep a second home or buy again through me in Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Miami, or New York.

I’m a national consultant under John L. Scott in the Pacific Northwest and Douglas Elliman nationally — which means I can oversee, coordinate, or quietly manage your relocation anywhere in North America at no cost to you.

Coming Up Next

Part 2: Commute Reality, Crime Truth, and What Relocation Guides Won’t Tell You
Part 3: Buy vs. Rent, Condos vs. Houses, and How Not to Screw This Up

Thinking About Relocating to Seattle?

If you’re moving for Amazon or tech and want straight answers, not sales pitches:

👉 Contact Seattle Premier Properties
I’ll tell you where to live — and just as importantly — where not to.