$652,993Average Value$437Average Price per Sq Ft30Homes For Sale
The nickname 'Rat City' does not refer to rodents
White Center is a community tucked between West Seattle and Burien. It was historically a streetcar-era suburb and became the site of a U.S. Army Relocation and Training Center during World War II. The area's nickname, "Rat City," includes an acronym for the relocation and training center rather than a reference to rodents. White Center has a developing business district, new construction and is known for being somewhat gritty, with a creative, indie and international vibe.
The name White Center came from a literal coin toss-up between the early 1900s developers in the area: Mr. White won over Mr. Green. "The mailing address is still Seattle, and people would say they live in Seattle," says Geoff Hill, managing broker and a top-producing agent with Keller Williams Greater Seattle. "It's more of a neighborhood than a town or city, and it's small enough that anyone outside of the greater Seattle area probably wouldn't know of it."
Single family homes make up the majority of houses in White Center.
White Center has big-city amenities with a smaller town vibe.
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Cultural diversity and a growing arts scene in White Center
White Center has an international feel, as it has a significant number of immigrants and refugees. The Latino and Vietnamese communities have been joined by neighbors from Somalia, Cambodia and other countries. The diverse population leads to a mix of cultural activities, educational opportunities and specialty businesses. Well-attended cultural events in White Center include Fiesta Mexicana, which the Holy Family Catholic Church puts on. The fundraiser includes food vendors, live music and equestrian performances.
In addition to its global appeal, White Center has drawn creatives seeking an alternative to areas they've been priced out of. "It's becoming a hip place for artists and musicians who used to be able to afford Columbia City," Hill says, referring to a neighborhood about 6 miles to the northeast, which was altered by an influx of new residents and the addition of a light-rail station. "As always happens, the artists and musicians had to flee to a more affordable area." Debuting in August of 2024, the Rat City Art and Food Walk is planned on the third Thursday of each month. Highlights include gallery shows, live art demonstrations and restaurant and bar promotions. The White Center Block Party, in August, is an event launched by small business owners seeking to promote local and regional businesses, artists and musicians.
Castillos Mexican Grocery in White Center adds to the international vibe of the neighborhood.
Come check out the monk blessing ritual during Annual White Center Khmer New Year.
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Eclectic retail and dining around 16th Avenue
The hub of White Center's retail, dining and social activity is along 16th Avenue and the surrounding streets. Most are locally operated and/or family owned shops. "You could walk from one side of the White Center commercial district in 10 minutes: it's pretty small," Hill says. "But you can tell it's up-and-coming based on the number of bars and restaurants. There's a good number of awesome pho and bahn mi places, a Salvadorian baker and a ton of Mexican." Proletariat Pizza, which claims to have made White Center famous, is known for its extensive menu, including ham-and-egg and potato pizzas. Crawfish House's chef and owner is a Vietnamese-American who moved here from Louisiana, bringing his po' boys and seafood boil techniques along. Tomo, a high-end restaurant with chef-driven, Japanese-influenced cuisine, has been nominated by the James Beard Foundation for its wine program. It opened in 2021 at the former location of an adult video store, between another adult video store and a beer hall. Beer Star has a rotating tap list with dozens of craft brews.
Castillos Supermarkets has a restaurant in the back that is popular for its daily Mexican buffet. Shorewood Grocery and Safeway are other options. The Taste of White Center, a summer street fair, has dozens of restaurants serving popular menu items to benefit the White Center Food Bank. A variety of cuisines reflects the global community.
White Center is full of sidewalks for residents to enjoy.
White Center's main area on 16th Avenue is a hotspot for restaurants, bars and shopping.
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Fun at Southgate Roller Rinks and Roxbury Lanes
The Southgate Roller Rink has a snack bar, a karaoke room and hosts a weekly drag cabaret. The Make it Loud! music series, affiliated with the White Center music festival Rat City Recon, brings bands to play live during designated 21-and-up skate sessions. Southgate was the launching spot for the Rat City Roller Girls, a league founded in 2004, which grew in popularity to the point they had to move their bouts to accommodate audiences in the thousands. In 2017, the league was renamed Rat City Roller Derby.
"One of Seattle's few remaining bowling alleys, Roxbury Lanes, is here as well," Hill says. Roxbury has a casino, over 40 arcade games and a bar and grill. Burger Planet, on 14th Avenue, hosts the monthly Rat City Bazaar, which features a rotating selection of creative goods and entertainment, plus gaming tournaments.
Folks congregate to Roxbury Lanes in White Center for action packed bowling and fun.
The Southgate Roller Rink in White Center is a popular roller derby amenity.
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White Center's ramblers, contemporary and modern homes
Single-family homes make up about half of the property mix in White Center. The oldest homes date to the 1910s, but a larger number are from the 1940s through the 1960s. Styles include bungalows, ramblers and daylight ramblers, which may be set into a hill, with basement windows that let in light from ground level. Twentieth-century homes can sell for $230,000 to $950,000, with the prices based on the house size, age and extent of upgrades.
Contemporary and modern-styled single-family homes and attached townhouses were built from the 2010s through the 2020s. Single-family homes cost $700,000 to $1.3 million. Townhouses are $550,000 to $760,000. Some homes come with monthly homeowners association fees of about $80 to $300. "It's still pretty affordable compared to other neighborhoods in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the city," Hill says.
Some White Center homes are larger and more expensive than others.
Rows of townhomes are common in White Center.
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Cox Memorial Park, disc golf and a bicycle playground
Steve Cox Memorial Park has a stadium, sports fields and courts, a playground and a foot reflexology walking path. Disc golf fans may travel to White Center just to play at the Ralph Williamson Memorial Disc Golf Course, previously known as the Lakewood King County Disc Golf Club. Nearby, in Dick Thurnau Memorial Park, formerly Lakewood Park, is the White Center Bicycle Playground, created as a safe place to learn to ride.
There's more to do in the areas surrounding White Center. "Just south, you have some really huge and very popular Puget Sound-adjacent parks," Hill says. "They all have hiking trails; at some, you can walk down to the beach and see views of the mountains. Salmon Creek Ravine and Seahurst Park are enormous areas with lots of trails."
Steve Cox Memorial Park hosts local youth leagues.
Dick Thurnau Park offers green space and the White Center Bicycle Playground.
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RapidRide H bus to Seattle, state Routes 509 and 99
Downtown Seattle is about an 8-mile drive north and it's roughly the same distance south to Sea-Tac, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Bus routes for White Center stop along streets like 16th and 26th avenues: the RapidRide H Line runs from Burien to Downtown Seattle. There's also a Park and Ride on Olson-Myers Way. Major roads include state Routes 509 and 99 to the east.
The Rapid Ride H Line offers smooth transportation throughout the White Center neighborhood.
White Center sits about 8 miles away from SeaTac International Airport.
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Highline School District has dual language programs
Public schools in the Highline School District include White Center Heights Elementary and Cascade Middle School, which earn C-minus grades from Niche. The schools also offer dual language programs in Spanish and Vietnamese. In 2023, the elementary school added Somali language enrichment and also has a Somali heritage club. Evergreen High School receives a B-minus and has dual immersion in Spanish. The district also has various application-based choice schools, mainly at the secondary levels.
White Center Heights Elementary is where neighborhood children start their academic journey.
Cascade Middle School holds a C- grade from Niche.
Evergreen High School receives a B-minus from Niche.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Are you familiar with the White Center neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
White Center
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
White Center Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in White Center, Seattle sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in White Center, Seattle over the last 12 months is $650,000, down 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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