Seattle, WA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Seattle Crime

Is Seattle safe?

Based on an analysis of 145 neighborhoods across the Seattle metro area, the city earns an overall safety rating of B (Safe). A striking 91% of neighborhoods fall into the A or B safety tier, meaning the vast majority of residents live in areas with low to very low crime activity. Specifically, 84 neighborhoods (57.9%) earned an A grade and 48 neighborhoods (33.1%) earned a B grade. Only 4 neighborhoods (2.8%) received a D grade, and zero neighborhoods received an F. Standout safe communities include Innis Arden (A+), Briarcliff (A+), and Whittier Heights (A+). Higher-concern areas like the International District (D-) and Holly Park (D-) account for a small fraction of the city's geography, but are worth noting for residents and visitors planning to spend time there.

What is the crime rate in Seattle?

Seattle's overall crime picture earns a grade of C on a city-wide basis, reflecting the influence of a handful of higher-crime neighborhoods on aggregate figures. However, the neighborhood-level data tells a more nuanced story: 57.9% of Seattle's 145 analyzed neighborhoods are graded A, 33.1% are graded B, and only 6.2% are graded C. Just 2.8% of neighborhoods — four in total — fall into the D range (International District at D-, Holly Park at D-, Yesler Terrace at D+, and High Point at D+). No neighborhood in the dataset received an F grade. This distribution suggests that while pockets of elevated crime do exist, they are geographically concentrated and do not represent the typical Seattle resident's day-to-day experience.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Seattle?

Seven Seattle-area neighborhoods achieved the highest possible rating of A+, all sharing notably high median household incomes that correlate with strong community investment and lower crime activity:

• Innis Arden — A+ | Median income: $170,638 | Population: 1,602
• Beaconsfield on the Sound — A+ | Median income: $141,784 | Population: 566
• Richmond Beach — A+ | Median income: $125,754 | Population: 4,882
• Briarcliff — A+ | Median income: $200,443 | Population: 4,543
• Normandy Park Riviera — A+ | Median income: $134,676 | Population: 833
• Broadmoor — A+ | Median income: $162,213 | Population: 1,846
• Whittier Heights — A+ | Median income: $112,912 | Population: 5,705

Rounding out the top ten safest neighborhoods are Montlake (A), Laurelhurst (A), and Denny-Blaine (A), each with median incomes between $145,470 and $185,872. Collectively, these communities demonstrate that Seattle's safest areas tend to cluster around higher income levels and lower population density relative to the city's metro average of 3,414 residents per square mile.

Which neighborhoods in Seattle have the highest crime?

Out of 145 neighborhoods analyzed, four received a D grade — the lowest tier in Seattle's distribution, as no neighborhood earned an F. The International District and Holly Park both carry a D- grade, representing the highest-concern areas in the city. Yesler Terrace and High Point each received a D+ grade, indicating elevated but slightly less severe crime activity. Sunnydale falls just above these at a C- grade. Together, D-graded neighborhoods represent only 2.8% of all Seattle neighborhoods analyzed, underscoring that high-crime areas, while real and significant for those who live or work there, are not representative of Seattle as a whole.

Is Seattle a good place to live?

By most measurable indicators, Seattle ranks as a strong place to call home. The city's median household income of $97,185 sits well above the national median, and a median home value of $713,372 reflects robust long-term demand. The unemployment rate of 4.1% and a poverty rate of 10.2% suggest a generally healthy labor market, though economic disparities do exist across neighborhoods. On the safety front, 91% of Seattle's neighborhoods are graded A or B, giving most residents access to low-crime communities. Families and professionals frequently gravitate toward neighborhoods like Laurelhurst (A), Whittier Heights (A+), and Richmond Beach (A+), where safety grades, income levels, and community amenities align favorably. Median rent of $1,702 per month and a population density of 3,414 per square mile reflect a dense, urban environment with considerable lifestyle variety — from quiet residential enclaves to dynamic mixed-use corridors.

How does Seattle's safety compare across its neighborhoods?

The spread of safety grades across Seattle's 145 neighborhoods is notably top-heavy in a positive way. Grade A neighborhoods account for 57.9% of the total, while Grade B neighborhoods make up another 33.1% — meaning 9 out of every 10 Seattle neighborhoods fall into the safe category. The middle tier (Grade C) covers just 6.2% of neighborhoods (9 total), and the higher-concern tier (Grade D) represents only 2.8% (4 neighborhoods). The complete absence of F-graded neighborhoods is a meaningful data point. This distribution highlights a city where safety is the norm rather than the exception, though the gap between top-tier communities like Briarcliff (A+, median income $200,443) and lower-graded areas like the International District (D-) illustrates how significantly safety outcomes can vary within a single metro area.