Population 3,472 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Montlake
Household size in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.71 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Montlake run small, averaging 2.46 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.59, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. Compared with other Seattle neighborhoods, though, Montlake has larger households than most.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.8 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.7 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Montlake skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Of Seattle's 67 neighborhoods, only six are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Montlake: 3.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Montlake has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Seattle neighborhoods.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Montlake
Renters in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −10.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Montlake is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 8.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 36.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Montlake has the lowest share of renters of any Seattle neighborhood.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Montlake: just 3.4% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Few Seattle neighborhoods have a lower vacancy rate: only six of 67.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1938 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Montlake is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1938, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Montlake has the oldest homes of any Seattle neighborhood.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,774 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,112 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,706 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,260 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,486 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
The median renter in Montlake pays $3,260 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 18.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. No other Seattle neighborhood has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Montlake
Bachelor's degrees in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.2% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 84.8% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 86.4% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 84.2% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Montlake is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (84.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Few Seattle neighborhoods have a higher share of college graduates: only four of 67.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 99.4% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.2% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.3% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.0% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Montlake: 98.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Montlake
| Period | Montlake | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.1% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Montlake than nationally: unemployment was 4.2%, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Montlake compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montlake | 2.46 | 44.7 | 3.4% | 8.9% | 3.4% | 1938 | $3,260 | 84.2% | 98.0% | 4.2% |
| Eastlake | 1.66 | 36.7 | 2.4% | 67.1% | 8.9% | 1984 | $1,913 | 81.5% | 99.1% | 6.3% |
| Madison Park | 2.29 | 44.3 | 12.2% | 45.9% | 11.3% | 1956 | $2,849 | 83.6% | 98.1% | 10.7% |
| Capitol Hill | 1.63 | 34.6 | 2.9% | 74.1% | 6.6% | 1971 | $2,010 | 75.3% | 98.6% | 4.2% |
| University District | 2.01 | 23.2 | 4.5% | 90.4% | 16.6% | 1989 | $1,769 | 65.8% | 98.5% | 9.6% |
| Westlake | 1.46 | 31.1 | 1.2% | 81.1% | 10.7% | 2005 | $2,463 | 88.9% | 99.2% | 5.3% |
| Laurelhurst | 2.92 | 41.0 | 3.0% | 19.4% | 6.0% | 1949 | $2,614 | 87.1% | 99.0% | 7.1% |
| Wallingford | 2.30 | 35.1 | 4.5% | 52.2% | 6.6% | 1951 | $2,205 | 83.5% | 98.3% | 6.3% |
| Madrona | 2.42 | 41.8 | 10.2% | 29.4% | 3.3% | 1942 | $2,421 | 73.5% | 96.9% | 5.4% |
| South Lake Union | 1.40 | 29.6 | 1.3% | 93.3% | 14.6% | 2013 | $2,571 | 80.3% | 98.7% | 4.4% |
| Central District | 1.99 | 33.3 | 6.5% | 66.6% | 6.7% | 1976 | $2,075 | 68.8% | 97.2% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Crossley Crossing, Round Rock, TX · Sunnyslope, Riverside, CA · Historic West-Side, Springfield, IL · Oakwood, Knoxville, TN · North Middletown, Middletown, NJ · Gilcrease Hills, Tulsa, OK · Globeville, Denver, CO · Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY · Westminster Heights, St. Petersburg, FL · Bay Breeze Cove, St. Petersburg, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Montlake. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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