One Seattle neighborhood was recently honored with an inclusion in Niche’s 2025 Best Places to Live in America list. Before we reveal which neighborhood made it into the top 10, we invite you to make your best guess. When you’re ready, keep reading—the answer may surprise you.
According to this 2025 ranking, the number one best place to live in America is Colonial Village, a neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia which has a population of about 3,000 residents. Just a little further down the list, a Seattle neighborhood is the sixth-best place to live: South Lake Union. With a population of over 11,000 residents, South Lake Union (or SLU as it’s often called by locals) is an urban neighborhood that sits between Seattle’s downtown core and scenic Lake Union.
Here are a few quick stats about SLU: 97% of residents in South Lake Union rent rather than own their homes, and the median rent is $2,445. The median household income there is $130,000 and the majority of residents have a bachelor’s, master’s, or higher degree. Niche also named South Lake Union the number one best neighborhood in Seattle, the best neighborhood for raising a family in Seattle, and the second-best neighborhood for young professionals in Seattle (the best was First Hill).
Residents who reviewed South Lake Union on Niche said that the area is quiet compared to downtown Seattle, especially at night. They also appreciated the diversity, the outdoor space at Lake Union Park, and the amount of restaurants. However some said it’s expensive, not very family-friendly, and traffic can be bad.
Here are the top 10 best places to live in the United States, according to this ranking:
- Colonial Village in Arlington, VA
- Atlantic Station in Atlanta, GA
- Chesterbrook in Philadelphia, PA
- Harbour Island in Tampa, FL
- City Center in Santa Monica, CA
- South Lake Union in Seattle, WA
- Carmel, IN
- Midtown in Atlanta, GA
- Madison in Huntsville, AL
- Johns Creek in Atlanta, GA
The ranking also features subcategories such as best places for families, best for young professionals, most diverse, and best places to buy a house. Each place was graded on overall livability of the area. Key factors that were considered included cost of living, employment statistics, quality of local schools, crime rates, housing, and amenities. The data sources included the U.S. Census as well as the CDC and FBI.
To see all of the places included and the full data, you can visit niche.com.