Once known as the birthplace of grunge, the rapidly changing city of
Seattle is now one of America’s top tech hubs. Natural beauty, entertainment, dining, and nightlife draw in hordes of new residents each year.
For longtime residents who are craving a quieter environment and room to spread out or new residents who aren’t quite sure the growing city is the best place to call home, these Seattle suburbs provide the best of both worlds.
Let’s take a look at the 10 best Seattle suburbs to live in.
1. Mercer Island
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $126,359
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
- Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent
Mercer Island kicks off our list of the best Seattle suburbs with gorgeous waterfront properties and craftsman, contemporary, and ranch style homes or chic modern condos.
Mercer Island is just a quick 20 minute drive or bus ride away from downtown Seattle, but residents don’t have to leave home for great amenities. Spend a day boating or hiking along the waterfront or enjoy a picnic in the scenic forested Pioneer Park. Foodies will love the upscale local restaurants concentrated around 78th Avenue.
2. Woodinville
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 5.4 percent
- Total amenities: 3,229
The charming and unique Seattle suburb of Woodinville earns the second place spot on our list with contemporary, craftsman, and farmhouse style homes on spacious private lots.
Spend a weekend touring Woodinville’s numerous wineries, grab fresh local produce at the Woodinville Farmers Market, or enjoy a scenic hike along the water at the Bassett Pond Natural Area.
3. Redmond
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 21 minutes
- Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent
The thriving small city of Redmond has wide variety of options for home buyers. Chic modern condos, contemporary style homes, historic craftsman houses, and sprawling farmhouses on acre lots are all available in this Seattle suburb.
Enjoy arts and culture events like Poets in the Park. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the scenic 684-acre Marymoor Park. Residents also have access to convenient brand name shopping and casual dining options at Redmond Town Center.
4. Issaquah
Key Stats:
- High school graduation rate: 96 percent
- Total amenities: 2,472
Issaquah earns the fourth place spot on our list of Seattle suburbs and has a variety of housing options for home buyers. Townhouses, Tudor style homes, contemporary houses, and historic craftsman homes are all common in Issaquah.
Outdoor enthusiasts have plenty of ground to explore. Issaquah is surrounded by Squak Mountain State Park, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, Tiger Mountain State Forest, and Lake Sammamish State Park. Issaquah also has numerous brand name and local shops and restaurants.
5. Newcastle
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent
- Median household income: $109,798
Home buyers in the peaceful Seattle suburb of Newcastle will have plenty of room to spread out in stately craftsman and Tudor style homes on huge lots. Mature trees, waterfront views, and professional landscaping are common.
Hit the links at the Golf Club at Newcastle, or hike scenic paths along streams and waterfalls at Coal Creek Park. The neighboring Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park provides challenging trails and scenic views for outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
6. Bellevue
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
- Total amenities: 11,860
The affluent and conveniently located suburb of Bellevue earns the sixth place spot on our list. Home buyers will find everything from chic modern high rise condos to cozy craftsman style homes on landscaped lots.
Bellevue has a population of nearly 130,000 and the amenities to match. Enjoy upscale shopping at Bellevue Square, numerous local dining options in downtown Bellevue, or a scenic stroll through Bellevue Botanical Garden. Arts and culture enthusiasts will love the Bellevue Arts Museum.
7. Sammamish
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 574
- Unemployment rate: 4.6 percent
- Median household income: $143,919
The lakeside suburb of Sammamish is full of stately new construction and historic craftsman style homes on spacious private lots. This peaceful Seattle suburb also has one of the lowest crime rates of any place we ranked.
Residents enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming at scenic Lake Sammamish, and picnics and hiking at the nearby 512-acre Lake Sammamish State Park. Golf enthusiasts can also hit the links at evergreen-lined fairways at Sahalee Country Club.
8. Kirkland
Key Stats:
- High school graduation rate: 95 percent
- Average commute time: 23 minutes
The vibrant suburb of Kirkland earns the eighth spot on our list with chic condos, contemporary style homes, and charming historic craftsman houses for home buyers.
Downtown Kirkland is full of local dining, nightlife, and entertainment options. Enjoy live music, theater productions, and dance performances at the Kirkland Performance Center, or tap into your artistic side with a class at the Kirkland Arts Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will love boating on Lake Washington, or hiking through Kirkland’s numerous well maintained city parks.
9. Lake Forest Park (tie)
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $99,637
- High school graduation rate: 96 percent
Lake Forest Park is the first suburb tied for ninth on our list, and has a variety of housing options for home buyers. Cozy cottages, sprawling contemporary style homes, and mid-century modern houses are all common picks.
Residents enjoy boating and swimming at Lake Washington and hiking through numerous scenic city parks. Convenient shopping and casual dining is available at the quaint Lake Forest Park Town Centre shopping mall.
9. Edmonds (tie)
Key Stats:
- High school graduation rate: 94 percent
- Total amenities: 2,641
Edmonds is tied for ninth on our list of Seattle suburbs and has plenty of chic modern condos, craftsman houses, and ranch style homes with beautiful waterfront views.
Enjoy boating, picnics, and gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound at Marina Beach Park, or hikes through forested Yost Park. Numerous cafes, boutiques, and specialty stores are located in downtown Edmonds along Main and 5th Streets.
9. Bothell (tie)
Key Stats:
- Median rent price: $1,243
- Total amenities: 2,985
Bothell rounds out our list of Seattle suburbs with housing options in a range of prices. Townhouses, historic craftsman style homes, and chic contemporary style homes are common.
Grab fresh local produce at the Bothell Farmers Market, or enjoy wine tastings from numerous local wineries. An eclectic mix of local shops and eateries line Historic Main Street.
Our Methodology
To figure out which Seattle suburbs would make the cut, we took a look at the following criteria:
- Amenities per capita
- Standard of living (cost of living, median home value, median rent, median household income, and high school graduation rate)
- Total crimes per 100k
- Unemployment rate
- Average commute time
We ranked each suburb in the above categories and averaged the scores. The suburbs with the lowest overall scores made our list of the best Seattle suburbs to live in.
For this list, we gathered data from the U.S. Census and
AreaVibes.
To see how the rest of the suburbs we ranked measured up, check out the table below:
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