Columbia City

Seattle, WA

Columbia City - Seattle, WA

Area Guide

Niche Reviews

3.8 (37 Reviews)

A historic community with a diverse selection of local eateries

Diverse • Historic • Great Location • Entertainment • Family-Friendly • Upscale •

A charming community just five miles southeast of Downtown Seattle, Columbia City is known for its historic homes and storefronts, particularly along Rainier Avenue. This neighborhood boasts a diverse community, as well as diverse eateries, so there’s always a new cuisine to try when dining out in Columbia City. After you’ve grabbed dinner, enjoy a live performance at Columbia City Theater, a historic live music venue built in 1917. Columbia City hosts several festivals and events throughout the year, including the BeatWalk Festival and the Columbia City Farmers Market.

This family-friendly community is also home to several neighborhood parks, including Genesee Park and Playfield, a sprawling, grassy park with soccer fields, walking trails, picnic sites, a dog park, and a playground. Apartments in the heart of Columbia City are known for being upscale, but there are affordable options throughout the neighborhood as well. Commuters appreciate living so close to the heart of Seattle for both work and leisure.

Rent Trends

As of February 2025, the average apartment rent in Columbia City is $1,477 for a studio, $1,980 for one bedroom, $2,796 for two bedrooms, and $3,610 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Columbia City has increased by 0.5% in the past year.

Studio
410 sq ft

Average Sq Ft
$1,477/month

Average Rent

1 BR
655 sq ft

Average Sq Ft
$1,980/month

Average Rent

2 BR
973 sq ft

Average Sq Ft
$2,796/month

Average Rent

3 BR
925 sq ft

Average Sq Ft
$3,610/month

Average Rent

Transportation

Very Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

Good Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

The area around this property has good transit with many nearby transportation options.

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Reviews of Columbia City - Seattle, WA

Niche Reviews

3.8 37 Reviews

Current Resident

6 years and 1 months ago•Niche Review

I love my neighbors who have been around since I was a baby and have seen me grow up into the college students I am today. I love how close I am to Lake Washington, but also have access to public transportation to get around the city of Seattle to explore and/or commute.

Current Resident

7 years and 5 months ago•Niche Review

It's very peaceful yet there are times when the main road MLK is noisy. The neighbors are friendly all around and often try to avoid conflict.

Niche User

8 years and 5 months ago•Niche Review

The general atmosphere is pretty good and has good access to fresh air and sunlight. Also, there is a community garden right in our backyards. Although, there has been some crime in the neighborhoods next to us.

Niche User

8 years and 10 months ago•Niche Review

Visually, things are good. There's no issues when it comes to the look of the neighborhood except for some litter every now and then. Crime isn't too common, but it's noticeable enough where you wouldn't want to go walking around in certain parts if it gets really late. There's been a little bit if gang activity, but not so much where it's a huge problem. I feel like it's way worse in other areas.

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