Seattle Apartment Guide: Find Your Rental Near Tech Hubs like Amazon, Google, and Adobe

I'm Sharon, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Seattle, Washington. We're blessed to live in Seattle, affectionately known as the Emerald City. Our diverse culture offers everything from acclaimed restaurants and niche breweries to world-class sporting events, museums, galleries, bookstores, live music, and farmers' markets. And Seattle is a close to the mountains, desert, and ocean. Let’s just say, you’ll never be hurting for something to do when you live and work here, whether you enjoy nightlife, culture, or outdoorsy hiking, camping, horseback riding, or water sports.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Seattle

Even better? Seattle is home to some big-name employers, and the average salary is higher than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Amazon, Google, Adobe, Starbucks, and the Fred Hutchison Cancer Center all have headquarters here. The University of Washington Medical Center is also one of Seattle's largest employers. It's near neighborhoods such as The University District, Green Lake, and Wallingford. If you're searching for an apartment located close to one of these companies, you're in luck. You have plenty of options. Our neighborhoods are as diverse as the people who live here and reflect their lifestyle.

Seattle Apartments Near Amazon

One of Amazon's Global Headquarters is in our fair city. You can even tour Amazon’s Seattle campus. Amazon employs thousands of Seattle residents in corporate offices, fulfillment centers, like the air hub at SeaTac Airport, and physical stores.

According to their website, Amazon employees start at an average hourly base-pay of $22 in the fulfillment, transportation, and pharmacy departments. The company's comprehensive benefits typically begin on day one.

Like the city, Amazon believes in community. At the fourth annual Global Month of Volunteering (GMV), over 7,600 employees volunteered their time at 580-plus events across the Puget Sound. From downtown Seattle to Bellevue, Amazon employees worked with community organizations, cleaning up parks, volunteering at food banks, and preparing disaster relief packages.

If you're searching for an apartment near Amazon, you have several excellent options.

South Lake Union

Living in South Lake Union is a fabulous choice, with hip bars, restaurants, and food trucks at lunch. My friends say South Lake Union is one of the best places to raise a family in Seattle these days. It also has the distinction of being one of the prime areas for young professionals. Amazon isn't the only employer close to this lovely neighborhood. If you work at Google, the University of Washington Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, or Facebook, this could be your neighborhood.

Belltown

Belltown is in the heart of the city, between downtown and the waterfront. Living here places you close to Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, live music, art galleries, and so much more. Something is happening around the clock in this neighborhood. It's an attractive area for young professionals, artists, and foodies.

Lower Queen Anne (Uptown)

In 2021, the city changed the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood's name to Uptown. I have many fond memories of this neighborhood. I worked at The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), when it was called the Jimmy Hendrix Museum. It's next to the world-famous Space Needle. You can walk or take the bus to the Seattle Center, where you'll find 74 acres of food vendors, performance venues, galleries, and gardens. The Climate Pledge Arena and SIFF are also popular neighborhood venues. Families with school-aged children will find stellar public schools, making it a perfect fit. You can even commute using the Monorail system.

Google

Google's offices offer sweeping views of Seattle's skyline. Seattle Googlers work as engineers and analysts. They also work in marketing, product management, legal services, and diverse support positions. One of my daughter's college roomies landed a job with Google Maps right after graduation. The company has two locations. One is in South Lake Union and the other is their Fremont location.

In Seattle, Washington, Googlers typically ride their bikes to work. In Fremont, you can bring your dog to work and take walks on the South Lake Washington Ship Canal Trail (The Burke-Gilman Trail) on your break. Adobe also has offices in Fremont, where my husband worked before retirement. We spent many hours lounging along the bank of the Ship Canal.

If you work at Google (Fremont Location) or Adobe, I highly recommend checking out the Fremont, Ballard, and Wallingford neighborhoods. You're sure to find a new home that fits your budget and lifestyle.

Fremont

Fremont is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seattle. It's artsy and liberal. The bohemian culture fits the lifestyle of most Googlers. You'll find unusual outdoor sculptures, like the Fremont Troll, indie shops, funky bars and coffee shops, and eclectic restaurants where artsy residents and tech workers gather after work. The area is great for families and singles.

Ballard

Ballard is a vibrant neighborhood and a beautiful place to raise a family. This waterfront neighborhood has a long seafaring history. It offers lots of cute boutiques, coffee shops, bars, live music, and eateries to explore. Plus, it's close to Golden Gardens Park if you crave a beach bonfire.

Wallingford

Wallingford's tree-lined streets feel like home. We lived close by in North Seattle, and I worked at the Bluestar Cafe for several years. The cafe is still there and thriving. It's a local favorite. If you love brunch and Bloody Marys, you must try it. Fremont is near, and you can bike the Burke-Gilman Trail to work.

Adobe

Seattle's Adobe location in Fremont employs engineers, research scientists, designers, and artists. Of course, there are also jobs for cooks, baristas, and customer service reps. They're one of the top employers in our city. My husband helped to renovate the offices shortly before retiring.

Adobe products are the industry standard. The company invented the PDF and tools that creatives like me use daily, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.

Employees enjoy a company culture that values imagination and promotes continuous learning. I'm a fan of both. Working at Adobe sounds like a dream job to me. In my experience, creativity thrives in the right surroundings. Finding an apartment nearby will help you create the perfect work-life balance.

Green Lake, North Seattle, and Magnolia are popular areas for families and young professionals.

Green Lake

Green Lake is a neighborhood with one of Seattle's favorite parks. This green space is the focal point of the neighborhood. We spent many summer days fishing and swimming in our urban lake, and it's the perfect place for a family picnic. There's a 2.8-mile path around the lake for your daily walk or run.

This safe, family-friendly neighborhood is resplendent with tree-lined streets. You'll find a strong sense of community and easy access to everything Seattle has to offer.

North Seattle Apartments Near Adobe

North Seattle is a pocket of small neighborhoods, including Ravenna/Roosevelt, Northgate, Wedgewood, and Pinehurst. My family lived in North Seattle for around five years. We found that the neighborhood near North Seattle College was quiet and community-oriented. The noise and crime rates increase closer to Aurora Blvd.

You'll find easy access to public transportation, shopping, and entertainment in every North Seattle neighborhood. There are single-family homes and apartments to suit most budgets. Like most of Seattle, you're never far from outdoor fun. Ravenna Park is a green space offering trails and wetlands, and the Woodland Park Zoo is nearby.

Magnolia

Magnolia is another peaceful spot in the city for raising a family. People who live here say it's a perfect blend of urban and suburban living. It's on a peninsula where you'll find stunning views of the Olympic Mountain Range and the Puget Sound to the north. Salmon Bay lies to the east, and Elliot Bay lies westward. Residents can access downtown via one of three bridges.

If you crave a slower pace, this neighborhood might be the spot. Magnolia also has Discovery Park, which is the outdoors person's dream, full of hiking trails and beaches to explore. You can spend the day shopping in The Village's upscale shops and have lunch in a local cafe. If you enjoy fresh produce as much as I do, you'll love shopping at the farmers’ market in the summer.

Seattle Apartments Near Meta

From jobs in artificial intelligence to infrastructure, Meta employs thousands in Seattle. The Seattle office is the second biggest in the company's network. I have several friends who work there, and they say Meta’s culture is about making an impact and high performance. The Seattle office is part of a global collaboration. And like our city, Seattle's Meta is innovative, diverse, and inclusive.

Outside of work, you’ve got Seattle’s best at your doorstep. Coffee shops for early brainstorms, waterfront parks for lunch breaks, and weekend escapes to the mountains or islands. Meta’s culture of high impact and inclusivity pairs perfectly with Seattle’s laid-back charm.

If you work at Meta, you likely thrive on challenges, creativity, and making things that matter. You want to find a home that reflects who you are, on the job and off. You've got alternatives. Check out Westlake, The Denny Triangle, and the University District.

Westlake

Westlake is on Lake Union's western shore. This narrow neighborhood runs from Aurora Avenue N. to Queen Anne, north across the Fremont Cut, and south toward South Lake Union. Its main streets are Dexter and Westlake Avenues N. Do you remember the movie "Sleepless in Seattle?" Fun fact: Tom Hanks's character lived in a houseboat in Westlake.

Living in Westlake offers easy access to Facebook (I mean, Meta's) main office at Dexter Station. You have easy access to Sound Transit's Westlake Station. Many people living here find it freeing to live without the cost of an automobile. Public transportation, SeaTac Airport, Amtrak, and several cruise options even make traveling outside the city easy.

The Denny Triangle

People say the Denny Triangle is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city. I hung out in the area years ago when I worked at the historic Cafe Minnies and sold my artwork in Pioneer Square at the OK Hotel. This eclectic neighborhood is expanding with new bars, eateries, galleries, eclectic coffee shops, and high-rise apartment buildings, offering upscale living for Meta workers.

The University District (U-District)

If you're a college student or a young professional, you'll love the vibe in the U-District. There's a plethora of inexpensive food options, funky dive bars, and coffee shops with that unique Seattle flair. The UW campus is home to the Burke Museum and the Henry Art Gallery.

Fred Hutchison Cancer Center

Fred Hutchison is a nonprofit organization. It also serves UW Medicine’s cancer program. Fifty years of pioneering research from Fred Hutchinson has saved hundreds of thousands of lives globally. The main campus is in South Lake Union. However, the organization operates ten clinical sites across the Puget Sound.

You could live in most of the areas I've already covered if you work at Fred Hutchinson, but depending on which clinic you work in, Capitol Hill, First Hill, and Eastlake are also solid choices.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is a vibrant neighborhood known for dining, nightlife, and cultural attractions. This densely populated area is where Seattle's counterculture of artists, musicians, and creatives gathers. Volunteer Park Conservatory is a live music and art venue, as well as a horticulture and architecture hot spot for residents.

First Hill

First Hill is home to Fred Hutchinson's original research center. These days it's called The First Hill Clinic. This neighborhood is between downtown and Capitol Hill, making it convenient to use public transportation throughout the city.

Eastlake

Eastlake is a residential area with waterfront access on the eastern shores of Lake Union. This popular, family-friendly neighborhood has everything you love about Seattle, including convenient public transportation access, many varied eateries, and thriving retail businesses. Many residents live on the lake in houseboats.

Take your time and explore our neighborhoods. Seattle has something for everyone, whether you're single or raising a family.