Tucked between Fremont, Green Lake, Lake Union, and the University District — just under five miles north of downtown — Wallingford is one of Seattle's most beloved residential enclaves.
Laid-back, quirky, and exceptionally walkable with a Walk Score around 90, it's known for colorful 1920s Craftsman bungalows and Dutch Colonial Revivals, front-yard gardens, eclectic shops, and a strong community pulse.
Named for 19th-century landowner John Noble Wallingford Jr., the neighborhood pairs historic character — brick-clad buildings, a National Register schoolhouse turned shopping center — with playful surprises, from a pirate-ship-themed bar to houseboats on Lake Union.
Wallingford residents live their neighborhood on foot — coffee on 45th, the farmers market, an evening stroll through Meridian's gardens. Families love the top-rated schools and the University of Washington next door; young professionals love the character and the commute options.
Civic life runs deep: the Wallingford Community Council meets monthly at the Good Shepherd Center, Tilth Alliance tends community gardens, and the Fremont Solstice Parade has started at Gas Works Park since 1993.
The original 1954 Dick's Drive-In anchors the neighborhood's food lore on NE 45th Street, joined by Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, the famed novelty emporium Archie McPhee, and family-run Fat Cat Records. Wallingford Center — a 1904 former elementary school on the National Register — houses shops, dining, and apartments, while the early-1910s Gothic Revival Guild 45th Theatre screens films in historic splendor.
The Octopus Bar's pirate-ship theme, Pacific Inn Pub, Murphy's Pub, Chocolati, Harvest Beat, Tilth Restaurant, RockCreek Seafood & Spirits, and Westward cover every night out, with A Muddy Cup Café for coffee. The N 45th Street business district — from Stone Way to Sunnyside — adds boutiques, breweries, and the Wallingford Farmers Market.
Gas Works Park is the crown jewel — a 19-acre former 1907 coal-gasification plant reimagined as an urban park, with its kite-flying hill, 2018 playground, panoramic downtown and Lake Union views, and home-base status for Seafair and Fourth of July fireworks. It borders the Burke-Gilman Trail, and 90-acre Woodland Park just north brings picnic areas, shaded walks, sports fields, the rose garden, and the Woodland Park Zoo.
Meridian Playground centers on the historic Good Shepherd Center — now a community space with Tilth Alliance, Meridian School, a senior center, and the Chapel performance venue — while Wallingford Playfield offers a summer wading pool and viewpoint. RapidRide runs on 45th, the E Line serves nearby Aurora, and Link light rail is a short trip away in the University District.
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of . All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by the broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
20,535 people live in Wallingford, where the median age is 34 and the average individual income is $93,363. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
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There's plenty to do around Wallingford, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Saucey - Seattle, Cicely Andree Yoga & Massage, and Compfit.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining | 0.41 miles | 1 review | 1/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.17 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.36 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.45 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.72 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.74 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.15 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.2 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.2 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.29 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.46 miles | 17 reviews | 4.1/5 stars | |
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Wallingford has 9,367 households, with an average household size of 2. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Wallingford do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 20,535 people call Wallingford home. The population density is 16,704 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
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