Bitter Lake

Seattle's Northwest district, about 7.73 miles from downtown, in King County.

Researched and written by Ryan Rose · Updated October 29, 2026

Bitter Lake's average lot of 7,894 sq ft, larger than 75% of Seattle neighborhoods, is what I liked most in the records. Homes average 1,186 sq ft, smaller than 85% of Seattle neighborhoods, and Bitter Lake Open Space Park and Bitter Lake Playfield are inside the boundaries. I counted 65 transit stops within a quarter mile. Estimated sidewalk coverage is 39.7%, lower than 85% of Seattle neighborhoods.

Illustration of a mix of detached houses, duplexes and small apartment buildings, built mostly in the 1950s.
Illustration
Downtown Bitter Lake 2 mi N ↑
I marked Bitter Lake on a map of Seattle drawn from the neighborhood boundaries the city publishes. Downtown is marked for reference.

At a glance

Area
631 acres
Homes
6,065
Median year built
1953
Average home size
1,186 sq ft Smaller than 85% of Seattle neighborhoods
Average lot size
7,894 sq ft Larger than 75% of Seattle neighborhoods

76.1% single-family, 12.3% townhouse, 3.3% condominium, 2.0% duplex to fourplex, 3.7% apartment

I compared each figure with the 82 other Seattle neighborhoods I have researched that have at least 100 residential parcels.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile
112 Fewer than 75% of Seattle neighborhoods
Average block length
444 ft Longer than 85% of Seattle neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage
39.7% (my estimate) Lower than 85% of Seattle neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile
65
Everyday categories within ½ mile
8

I compared each figure with the 82 other Seattle neighborhoods I have researched that have at least 100 residential parcels.

Parks and recreation

Bitter Lake Open Space Park, Bitter Lake Playfield

Schools in and near this neighborhood

  • Broadview-Thomson K-8 School PK–8 Seattle School District No. 1
  • CHRIST THE KING PARISH SCHOOL
  • SEATTLE AREA GERMAN AMERICAN SCHOOL
  • Viewlands Elementary School PK–5 Seattle School District No. 1
  • Ingraham High School 9–12 Seattle School District No. 1
  • NORTHWEST SCHOOL DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants
8
Cafes
4
Bars and pubs
0
Grocery
0
Pharmacies
0

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

  • Chada Thai Thai · Inside the neighborhood
  • Ichi Roll Wok & Teriyaki Asian · Inside the neighborhood
  • Radiant Flavors Cafe Cafe · Inside the neighborhood
  • No. 9 Alley Hot Pot Chinese · Inside the neighborhood
  • ONMI Korean · Inside the neighborhood
  • Gourmet Latté Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • LadyBug Bikini Espresso Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Grounds Coffee Co. Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Jollof Hub West African Cuisines African · Inside the neighborhood
  • La Cabaña Central American · Inside the neighborhood Patio

I pulled these from OpenStreetMap: the nearest named restaurants and cafes, starting inside the neighborhood and measured from its edge. Places marked Patio have outdoor seating, from my research for Outdoor Seating Near Me, my other site; the photos come from that research too.

Housing context

Median home value
$789,300
Median gross rent
$1,807
Owner-occupied
56.3%
Renter-occupied
43.7%

I pulled these from the census tract that covers this neighborhood, so they describe the tract, not the neighborhood itself. I report housing and housing cost only.

Bordering neighborhoods