Laurelhurst Seattle: Safe, Impressive and Family-Friendly

The exclusive and picturesque Laurelhurst Seattle neighborhood is most well-known for it's impressive views, safe community, fancy homes and stable real estate market. Laurelhurst has been one of the most desirable and well-cared for neighborhoods in Seattle for decades and as safety and beauty standards in the area continue to rise, it is now one of the best areas of the city to raise a family. This exclusive waterfront community has been home to famous names like Laurelhurst native Bill Gates, Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas and even a few rockstars throughout the years. As one of the original Seattle suburbs, this area has a beautiful residential feel with winding neighborhood roads, cul-de-sacs and gorgeous views of the city.

Laurelhurst Demographics

Originally used as a seasonal campground for the native Duwarmish tribe, during the early 1900's real estate developers saw the potential that the Laurelhurst area had for becoming a beautiful and well-loved residential area. Once the railway was expanded along Lake Washington, the area began to increase in popularity and has been steadily growing ever since. According to 2015 census data, the population in Laurelhurst is just 4,355 residents, making this one of the smaller and more exclusive waterfront neighborhoods in Seattle. The median household income for residents in Laurelhurst is $124,947 or 85 percent higher than that of the Seattle metro area ($67,523). The median age of residents in Laurelhurst is 40 years old, with 42.7 percent of residents identifying as married with children under the age of 18 living at home. The median listing price for homes in Laurelhurst is $3.7 million or $583/sq ft. The median sale price for homes purchased in the last quarter is $1.36 million or $463/sq ft. Compared to the same quarter last year, the asking price for homes in this area has increased by over 57 percent, while the availability of homes for sale has increased by over 33 percent. This indicates that for the motivated buyer, finding your dream home in Laurelhurst is easily within reach.

Culture in Laurelhurst Seattle

As the Laurelhurst is one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in all of Seattle, education is very important to the residents here. The community boasts a graduation rate of 99 percent and more than 84 percent of residents 18 and over have completed a Bachelors degree or higher. As far as education options that are available here, Laurelhurst is home to Laurelhurst Elementary School, Villa Academy, the Wu Hsing Tao School, an independent grade school and the Seattle Midwifery School. Although this is one of the more affluent neighborhoods in Seattle, Laurelhurst is far from snobbish. In fact, the residents here are very welcoming and understand that with such a great location, many visitors are sure to visit to enjoy the great local sights and fun little boutique shops and restaurants. When looking for a local spot to call your own, try checking out Varlamos Pizzeria or the slightly more upscale and fancy Jak's Grill for date nights. If you're looking for a little more action close to home try heading over to Sandpoint Way, where you'll find great shopping at quirky little shops like City People's Mercantile, University Wines and great eats at the Sandpoint Grill.

Quality of Life in Laurelhurst

With an excellent location along the waterfront and a tight-knit community of friendly and welcoming residents, Laurelhurst is one of the most desirable neighborhoods for young couples and growing families in all of Seattle. With easy access to the University of Washington, Seattle's eastside and the popular downtown area, residents can enjoy all the perks of a secluded and beautiful residential area with the convenience of the more urban and hip areas of the city.

Safety and order are also very important to those living in the Laurelhurst community. In fact, Laurelhurst on average has a 20 percent lower crime rate than the national average. This peaceful neighborhood is also safer than 77 percent of the other neighborhoods located in the state of Washington and on average, for every 100,000 residents only 6.76 daily crimes occur in this area. In this tight-knit and safe community the odds of becoming a victim of a crime are 1 in 41.

Laurelhurst Seattle is Best Known for Being Family-Friendly

If you ask any current Seattle residents what comes to mind when they think of the Laurelhurst neighborhood you are likely to hear that this area is beautiful, impressive and the perfect place to raise a family. With such a great safety rating, excellent schools and a thriving real estate market, it is easy to understand why everyone from the average, working middle class family to big Hollywood stars and billionaires like Bill Gates are eager to call this beautiful and comfortable neighborhood home. Whether you're looking for a beautifully maintained classic Tudor style home or a large and luxurious waterfront estate, there is something perfect for your growing family in the Laurelhurst area.

Due to the neighborhood's excellent location, great schools, beautiful views and easy access to the best that the city has to offer, it is no wonder that Laurelhurst is rated the #2 most desirable neighborhood in all of Seattle! For those who are motivated to buy in Laurelhurst Seattle we recommend consulting our extensive home buying guise with simple buying tips to help you find the right home at the right price in this beautiful and welcoming community.