Explore Neighborhoods

Newcastle

A scenic suburb

Previously one of the most successful coal mining towns in Washington, Newcastle is now the higher end neighborhood in Renton with easy access to shopping and movies at Factoria Square mall. Enjoy this peaceful, scenic suburb or utilize the short commute into Bellevue or Seattle.

I love that we have quick access to trails, trees, groceries, airports, parks, and all amenities. I couldn’t recommend it enough to someone who wants to be close to Seattle and Bellevue with the beauty of wildlife and great schools. – Cristina J.

Renton

Convenient suburb living

Renton is a diverse community with convenient shopping and restaurants scattered throughout.
Attractions Include: Top Golf, Gene Coulon Park & The Landing shopping center.

I think my favorite thing about living in Renton is living near downtown and the Landing – lots of great local-run/owned restaurants and all the shopping I need, and it’s affordable compared to other places on the Eastside. – Cal D.S.

Tukwila-Seatac-Burien

Fly from SeaTac International Airport with Ease!

These suburb cities have convenient access to arts & entertainment, shopping, the international airport and waterfront. Not to mention, easy public transport into Seattle with the light rail.

Burien is a convenient neighborhood containing amenities you can get in Seattle without all of the crowds! Sitting close to the water, enjoy Seahurst Park to walk, explore, or have a picnic with friends and family. Burien also has some cute shops on South 152nd St. and great places for dining out. Try the 909 for upscale occasions, and The Burien Pizzeria for yummy pizza, pasta, and daily specials plus an excellent bar and great service. But whatever you do, don’t miss Bakery Nouveau’s flagship location which includes their chocolate-making facility. – Jamie T.

Redmond

Center of tech and parks

Redmond is home to over 1300 acres of parks, lots of which are used for recreation programs of all ages. As the center of technology, Redmond continues to increase diversity within their community. Visit the Redmond Town center for shopping, putt putt golf, and fun community events like a chalk painting festival. Downtown is home to a bounty of restaurants, breweries and local coffee shops.

Capitol Hill-First Hill

Colorful, eclectic living

Considered the center of Seattle nightlife where you’ll find a variety of bars and restaurants to suit most styles. Rainbow crosswalks brighten several streets and crowds flock to the area in June for Seattle’s Pride. This area is home to Seattle University, and Seattle Central College, can be seen in Macklemore’s Thrift Shop video and is the place where Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s Posse was on Broadway.

Cap Hill is a great central location with plenty of nightlife, live music, and great places to eat. – Mike W.

Bothell-Woodinville

Wineries, outdoors and more!

Bothell and Woodinville provide a mix of rural and suburban lifestyles. Woodinville is well-known for its countless wineries where you can enjoy music, tours and tastings, while Bothell boasts recreation opportunities and restaurants to explore.

Kent

A business hub with entertainment for all

Once an agricultural city, Kent has developed into an industrial center just 15 miles southeast of Seattle. Watch the Thunderbirds play hockey at ShoWare Center or enjoy shopping & food at Kent Station.

Mercer Island

Luxury, small-town living

LOCATION. Mercer Island is a sanctuary of luxury homes and waterfront & forested parks. Enjoy mountain and lake views within 10 miles of downtown Seattle and Bellevue.

An idyllic small-town meets luxury living. You’ll find picturesque views of Lake Washington and Washington’s mountain ranges, as well as tree-lined streets that make fall even more beautiful. The best part is quick access to Seattle and Bellevue for big city adventures. – Makenna P.

Maple Valley-Covington

Suburban in the heart of nature

Maple Valley and Covington offer a nature-centric lifestyle only 30 miles from Downtown Seattle. These communities offer endless arts & entertainment, as well as an active lifestyle with access to lakes, golf courses and trails scattered about. You will find mostly single-family homes with very few condos.

Lake Wilderness park has live music during the summer. It’s a great way to hang out after spending time on the water. – Scott D.

Magnolia-Queen Anne

Classic homes with big city appeal

These are your classy, traditional Seattle neighborhoods where you’ll find primarily large single-family homes on the side streets and a bounty of brick apartments and condos along main thoroughfares. There are small shopping centers, great city views, and plenty of neighborhood parks in each. Lower Queen Anne is home to the Seattle Center and Climate Pledge Arena.

Des Moines-Normandy Park

“Boating Capital of the Pacific Northwest”

Des Moines and Normandy Park have sweeping waterfront views and outdoorsy activities for all to enjoy. Both suburban towns are popular locations for people looking to settle down outside of Seattle.

Lynnwood-Mountlake Terrace

Endless dining options and outdoors to explore

These suburban towns offer outdoorsy activities, shopping sprees at Alderwood Mall and endless arts & entertainment opportunities for families. All of this, plus light rail is under construction for easy transit into Seattle.

Mountlake terrace is an up and coming neighborhood just north of Seattle. Quick and easy access to the city for adventures or a fun night out with easy transportation though the Link light rail station, new restaurants and bars, and great family friendly/walkable neighborhoods. – Brenna H.

Duvall-Carnation

A rural gem

These rural towns offer a change of pace from the bustling city. Spend an afternoon in the outdoors biking or fishing, or run into friendly neighbors at the local farmers markets for farm to table freshness.

Kenmore-Lake Forest Park

Kenmore and Lake Forest Park mix urban and suburban lifestyles full of greenery and water views. Sit back and watch seaplanes over Lake Washington or adventure through the parks.

Third Place Books Lake Forest Park is a great spot to catch up with a friend, support a local bookstore, eat some tasty food, and maybe catch a local community performance. – Margaretta C.

Downtown Seattle-Belltown

Center of big city living

The downtown core acts as the heart of the city. It is where public transport, freeways, and major arterials converge. This is where you’ll find the biggest theaters, concert venues, shopping, and many happy-hour options!

Downtown is in an interesting space right now. It has all the infrastructure to support more people but with the rise of remote work it’s much emptier than it was pre-pandemic. The upside is there’s more parking available and public transportation feels faster and easier than ever. I’ve got concert and theatrical venues along with restaurants of all varieties all within pretty easy walking distance. – Andy R.

Sammamish

A wooded oasis

Where the city meets the wild! Bears, bobcats, and coyotes are welcomed as neighbors. Expect higher price points on elaborate homes with sweeping forested yards. Sammamish has seen significant growth in recent years as the city continues to sprawl.

One restaurant I appreciate in Sammamish is Tanoor as it has beautiful decor and views of the city. – Liz R.

Snoqualmie-North Bend

Live amongst the mountains

Snoqualmie and North Bend offer sweeping mountain views and a mix of old and new, as they grow in popularity. Head out to Snoqualmie pass for a day of skiing, feel the mist as you visit Snoqualmie falls, or choose a hike at Mount Si.

Ignition in North Bend is my favorite venue to attend art classes hosted by North Bend Art and Industry. I recently hosted a paint and sip there and the venue was perfect. The owner Gavin is super rad, the ambience is chill and cozy and they rotate some of my favorite food trucks throughout the week there too. – Sarah H.

Issaquah

Suburban luxury

Plenty of shopping, a quaint downtown and mountain views abound in this small city. Whether you prefer to catch a play at The Village Theater, partake in tasty local beer and unique pizza combos at Formula Brewing, or watch Bald Eagles soar above from a kayak at Lake Sammamish State Park. With easy access to I-90, Issaquah is a commuters dream for quick access to other Eastside cities like Bellevue, Sammamish and Redmond.

Issaquah has it all – the beauty of the mountains and the conveniences of town, all within the city limits. And if you want a bigger city or bigger mountains, you can zip to Seattle or the Cascades in an easy 20 minutes. – Casey H.

Bellevue

Luxurious big city living

Bellevue has the appeal of big-city living mixed with high-end homes minutes from the city center. You’ll find shopping at the Bellevue Collection or Crossroads mall, restaurants with fantastic happy hours and parks scattered about.

If you live/work in Bellevue you don’t have to choose between the city or the suburbs, mountains or water, you can have the best of them all! – Zach H.

Edmonds-Woodway

A North-end Treasure

Edmonds and Woodway are hidden gems 15 miles from Downtown Seattle. Enjoy community events like the monthly art walk, and local shopping in quaint downtown Edmonds or spend time taking in the views along the waterfront.

The little theater in Edmonds is great and provides an old-school feel for watching a movie. Also, the Driftwood Theatre is wonderful for watching an inexpensive, but well done live theatre performance. – Annarose N.

NW Seattle (Ballard-Fremont-Greenlake)

A bustling town with character

Once akin to a sleepy fishing village, Ballard is now a bustling neighborhood with a plethora of restaurants, strong nightlife, and some of Seattle’s great small music venues. Near its core you’ll find primarily apartments and condos and on the outskirts are classic Seattle homes, some with a water view.

I love the walkability and variety of things to do in Ballard. You can see a movie at The Bay, a concert at The Tractor, watch the salmon at The Locks, have a Sloopersized beverage at The Sloop, and catch the sunset at Golden Gardens. – Rachel R.

Northgate-Lake City

A commuters dream

Catch Seattle’s NHL team practices or have a go at ice skating yourself at the Kraken Ice Complex. The highly anticipated light rail station is now open and ready to provide quick transport to Downtown. There are plenty of condos and townhomes, as well as classic single-family homes, and typically for lower price points than you’ll find in many Seattle neighborhoods.

I was drawn to Northgate for a number of reasons. First, It was the price point intersection for me with hoping to live closer to the city center but without the fully inflated prices. With lite rail going in and the new Ice rink, I also anticipated near-term appreciation. It also allowed for bigger yards and quieter streets as I consider future family possibilities. – Stefan S.

West Seattle

A charming escape with a relaxed vibe

West Seattle is home to The Junction, a street for good eats, local theater, and a popular farmer’s market. Commuters can skip the traffic and head to downtown via ferry. West Seattle is home to plenty of quaint houses, modern townhomes, and even waterfront condos. Enjoy sweeping downtown views and the feel of sand between your toes at Alki Beach on a sunny day.

West Seattle is an amazing suburb that gives a coastal beach town feel in some parts and a thriving, bustling urban neighborhood vibe in others. It’s a versatile place with something for almost everyone. It’s removed from the main city, so it’s peaceful, but with transportation like the water taxi and the bridge reopened downtown is very accessible and easy to pop over to. – Janie A.

Shoreline

Picture residential homes mixed with an outdoor paradise

Shoreline is a suburb with a large population of single-family residences. The town boasts an abundance of parks, easy access to shopping & restaurants and a quick commute into Seattle.

There are so many parks! Many have a good blend of kid-friendly and dog-friendly options, as well as beautiful scenes with wooded areas, beaches, views, etc. – Stephanie A.

Kirkland

Luxurious living with big city charm

Kirkland is a wonderful waterfront community with easy access to the freeway, countless parks, convenient shopping and arts & entertainment for all ages.

My favorite thing about Kirkland is the public marina and Marina Park! Love being near, in, and on the water! I can do all that on Lake Washington from Marina Park! – Kristin L.