Seattle's downtown ranks among nation's "stickiest"
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Seattle has one of the "stickiest" downtowns among U.S. cities, according to a new survey that asked residents how often they visit and how long they stay.
Why it matters: The findings are another sign of how Seattle is drawing people downtown after years of slow post-pandemic recovery.
State of play: Among the 34 U.S. cities included in Gensler's City Pulse 2026 report, Seattle had the fourth-highest "stickiness" score — a metric that combines visit frequency and length of stay.
- Gensler, a design, architecture and urban planning firm, surveyed 500 residents per city.
By the numbers: Among Seattleites, 54% said they visit downtown at least weekly, compared with 40% nationally.
- 35% of Seattle respondents said they often stay downtown longer than planned or visit because they enjoy spending time there, compared with 30% nationally.
What they're saying: "Downtown Seattle is not suffering from a visitation problem," Sofia Song, global cities lead at the Gensler Research Institute, told Axios. "People are showing up."
Between the lines: One of Seattle's strengths is its transit system.
- 76% of Seattle respondents said they were satisfied with their public transit, versus a national figure of 58%, Song said.
Yes, but: Seattle could do better at making its downtown more inviting at night and on weekends, the report suggests.
- Only 66% of Seattle respondents rated the city's downtown as "vibrant" at night, compared with 74% nationally. "That's a real gap there," Song said.
The big picture: Among all cities included in the report, Gensler found that fewer than half of residents visit their central business district weekly, while less than a third spend recreational time there.
- Part of that is structural, the report says: "Comfort deficits (shade, seating, restrooms), safety concerns, and poor mobility act as barriers, even where residents rate their downtown highly."
Case in point: Phoenix came in dead last among the included U.S. cities, which may reflect challenges including poor walkability and extreme heat.
How it works: Gensler's research wing gathered feedback from 35,000 residents across 75 cities worldwide in an online survey conducted from July 8 to Nov. 4, 2025.