Best suburbs in Seattle
The GI Bill of Rights, Ike’s interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.
Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023. But a good location comes with a cost.
A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.
What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.
Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in Seattle. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.
Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in Seattle.
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#21. Mill Creek, Washington
– Population: 20,797
– Median home value: $777,500
– Median rental price: $2,134
– Top schools nearby: North Creek High School (grade A+), Cedar Wood Elementary School (grade A), Henry M. Jackson High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Shoreline Christian School (grade A), Archbishop Murphy High School (grade A)
– Overall Niche grade: A−
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#20. Mirrormont, Washington
– Population: 4,102
– Median home value: $874,800
– Median rental price: $1,310
– Top schools nearby: Issaquah High School (grade A+), Cedar River Elementary (grade A), Liberty Senior High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Rainier Christian Schools (grade A), St. Joseph Parish School (grade A), Renton Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Overall Niche grade: A−
— Weather grade: C+
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#19. Duvall, Washington
– Population: 8,128
– Median home value: $689,800
– Median rental price: $2,978
– Top schools nearby: Ella Baker Elementary School (grade A+), Clara Barton Elementary School (grade A), Eagle Rock Multiage School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: The Overlake School (grade A+), The Bear Creek School (grade A+), Brightmont Academy – Redmond (grade B+)
– Overall Niche grade: A−
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: C
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#18. Edmonds, Washington
– Population: 42,705
– Median home value: $761,300
– Median rental price: $1,821
– Top schools nearby: North Creek High School (grade A+), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Robert Eagle Staff Middle School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+), The Northwest School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A−
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#17. Shoreline, Washington
– Population: 58,673
– Median home value: $711,500
– Median rental price: $1,853
– Top schools nearby: North Creek High School (grade A+), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#16. Mukilteo, Washington
– Population: 21,365
– Median home value: $760,700
– Median rental price: $1,999
– Top schools nearby: North Creek High School (grade A+), Mukilteo Elementary School (grade A−), Endeavour Elementary School (grade A−)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Bishop Blanchet High School (grade A+), Shoreline Christian School (grade A)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#15. Cottage Lake, Washington
– Population: 23,233
– Median home value: $1,094,000
– Median rental price: $2,233
– Top schools nearby: International Community School (grade A+), North Creek High School (grade A+), Redmond High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools nearby: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), The Bear Creek School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#14. Medina, Washington
– Population: 2,923
– Median home value: $2,000,001
– Median rental price: $3,501
– Top schools nearby: International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+), Islander Middle School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#13. Woodway, Washington
– Population: 1,118
– Median home value: $1,550,600
– Median rental price: $1,625
– Top schools nearby: Robert Eagle Staff Middle School (grade A), Maplewood Parent Cooperative (grade A−), Edmonds Woodway High School (grade A−)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Bishop Blanchet High School (grade A+), Shoreline Christian School (grade A)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#12. Bothell, Washington
– Population: 47,917
– Median home value: $796,900
– Median rental price: $2,174
– Top schools nearby: North Creek High School (grade A+), Woodinville High School (grade A), Shelton View Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#11. Kenmore, Washington
– Population: 23,611
– Median home value: $803,000
– Median rental price: $1,850
– Top schools nearby: International Community School (grade A+), North Creek High School (grade A+), Shelton View Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#10. Bainbridge Island, Washington
– Population: 24,681
– Median home value: $985,400
– Median rental price: $1,965
– Top schools nearby: Ordway Elementary School (grade A), Capt. Johnston Blakely Elementary School (grade A), Capt. Charles Wilkes Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: West Sound Academy (grade A), Montessori Country School (grade unavailable), Gateway Christian Schools – Eagles Campus (grade unavailable)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A
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#9. Lake Forest Park, Washington
– Population: 13,462
– Median home value: $874,200
– Median rental price: $1,992
– Top schools nearby: North Creek High School (grade A+), Lockwood Elementary School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#8. Woodinville, Washington
– Population: 13,301
– Median home value: $917,700
– Median rental price: $2,263
– Top schools nearby: International Community School (grade A+), North Creek High School (grade A+), Ella Baker Elementary School (grade A+)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#7. Kirkland, Washington
– Population: 92,015
– Median home value: $937,700
– Median rental price: $2,250
– Top schools nearby: International Community School (grade A+), International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#6. Issaquah, Washington
– Population: 39,400
– Median home value: $891,500
– Median rental price: $2,409
– Top schools nearby: Skyline High School (grade A+), Issaquah High School (grade A+), Cougar Ridge Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+), The Northwest School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: C+
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#5. Newcastle, Washington
– Population: 12,931
– Median home value: $1,036,200
– Median rental price: $2,163
– Top schools nearby: Newport High School (grade A+), International School (grade A+), Bellevue Big Picture School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Northwest Yeshiva High School (grade A+), Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#4. Mercer Island, Washington
– Population: 25,464
– Median home value: $1,683,600
– Median rental price: $2,315
– Top schools nearby: Bellevue High School (grade A+), Mercer Island High School (grade A+), West Mercer Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#3. Sammamish, Washington
– Population: 66,586
– Median home value: $1,139,100
– Median rental price: $2,627
– Top schools nearby: Tesla STEM High School (grade A+), International Community School (grade A+), Redmond High School (grade A+)
– Top private schools nearby: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), The Bear Creek School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: C+
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#2. Clyde Hill, Washington
– Population: 3,108
– Median home value: $2,000,001
– Median rental price: $3,501
– Top schools nearby: International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+), Clara Barton Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
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#1. Yarrow Point, Washington
– Population: 1,280
– Median home value: $2,000,001
– Median rental price: $3,501
– Top schools nearby: International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+), Renaissance School of Art & Reasoning (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Lakeside School (grade A+), The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B
— Cost of living grade: C−
— Outdoor activities grade: A+
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.
By Stacker
I get the hype around walkable neighborhoods with cute coffee shops, but don’t sleep on those hidden gems with big backyards and peaceful vibes! They’re perfect for spontaneous BBQs. Plus, some suburbs are surprisingly affordable, so you can enjoy a nice slice of suburban life without going broke!
Isn’t it wild how some suburbs not only have great schools and affordable homes but also a lively community vibe with fun events? I love digging into the unique perks and activities each suburb offers. there are definitely some hidden gems that can fit any lifestyle perfectly!