First Hill

Seattle's Downtown district, about 0.52 miles from downtown, in King County.

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

Average lot size in First Hill is 16,423 sq ft, larger than all 82 other compared Seattle neighborhoods, and I found that striking given that apartments make up 64.3% of the housing mix. In my records the average block is 289 ft, shorter than in any other compared neighborhood, and there are 128 transit stops within a quarter mile. I also noted 85.3% estimated sidewalk coverage, along with Boylston Place and First Hill Park. Homes average 1,220 sq ft.

Illustration of mid-rise apartment and condominium buildings above ground-floor storefronts, built mostly in the 1980s.
Illustration
First Hill 2 mi N ↑
I marked First Hill on a map of Seattle drawn from the neighborhood boundaries the city publishes. Downtown is marked for reference.

At a glance

Area
217 acres
Homes
11,392
Median year built
1980 Newer than 75% of Seattle neighborhoods
Average home size
1,220 sq ft Smaller than 80% of Seattle neighborhoods
Average lot size
16,423 sq ft Larger than every other Seattle neighborhood

1.6% single-family, 4.7% townhouse, 18.6% condominium, 64.3% 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
242 More than 90% of Seattle neighborhoods
Average block length
289 ft Shorter than every other Seattle neighborhood
Sidewalk coverage
85.3% (my estimate) Higher than 85% of Seattle neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile
128 More than 95% of Seattle neighborhoods
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

Boylston Place, First Hill Park, Jim Ellis Freeway Park

Schools in and near this neighborhood

  • O'DEA HIGH SCHOOL
  • THE NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
  • SEATTLE ACADEMY
  • Interagency Detention School 6–12 Seattle School District No. 1
  • IDEAL SCHOOL
  • MORNINGSIDE ACADEMY
  • Seattle World School 6–12 Seattle School District No. 1
  • Bailey Gatzert Elementary School PK–5 Seattle School District No. 1
  • SPRUCE ST SCHOOL
  • SEATTLE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • THE HATCH SCHOOL
  • THE HATCH SCHOOL

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants
29
Cafes
20
Bars and pubs
7
Grocery
1
Pharmacies
2

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

  • Top Pot Doughnuts Cafe · Inside the neighborhood
  • Blue Water Taco Grill Mexican · Inside the neighborhood
  • Piroshki on Madison Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Gyro First Mediterranean · Inside the neighborhood
  • Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen West African · Inside the neighborhood
  • Pho Saigon Vietnamese · Inside the neighborhood
  • Sugar Bakery & Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Piedmont Café Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • City Burger Burger · Inside the neighborhood
  • Stella Restaurant · 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
$701,900
Median gross rent
$2,235
Owner-occupied
8.1%
Renter-occupied
91.9%

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