https://www.showboxpresents.com/Thinking of moving to the Seattle area? There are all kinds of great Seattle suburbs with family-friendly neighborhoods, affordable housing options, and job opportunities. If you’re ready to settle down in this Pacific Northwest metro, check out these five best suburbs of Seattle!
Bellevue
Photo via @nwg_compass
- Home Price: $608,500 median purchase price; $1,629 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 40% of Washington cities
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Offering a mix of urban and suburban dwellings, Bellevue is the perfect suburb for those looking to live in a small city without giving up big-city amenities. There are also plenty of good schools in the area, including Interlake High School, Spiritridge Elementary School, and Bellevue High School, making Bellevue a hot spot for families. But that’s not all this Seattle suburb has to offer! You can earn your degree at local university Bellevue College, shop and dine in the expansive Bellevue Collection district, or find employment with companies like T-Mobile, Paccar, and Expedia.
Things to Do in Bellevue
Take a stroll through the 21-acre Bellevue Downtown Park. Check out the gardens or see the Garden d’Lights holiday show at Bellevue Botanical Garden. Stop by the Bellevue Arts Museum to see great works of modern and classic art. Head to the Bellevue Collection—Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place—to get in some retail therapy, watch a movie, or grab a bite to eat. Take the family to KidsQuest Children’s Museum, where kids can engage with interactive exhibits like the Art Studio, Bellevue Mercantile, and Atrium Climber. Stop by local favorite Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar for fresh seafood like Fresh Pacific NW King Salmon and Alaskan King Crab. Enjoy delicious specialty steaks like the Delmonico, Bone-In New York Strip, or USDA Prime Chateaubriand at John Howie Steak. Pick up some grub at Mediterranean Kitchen, and be sure to try the Lamb Shawarma, Algerian Chicken, and Kafta Kabobs. Or order Hanoi Tuna, Thai Passion Tofu, and Indian Butter Chicken at Asian restaurant Wild Ginger.
Bothell
Photo via @alina_araujore
- Home Price: $372,700 median purchase price; $1,460 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 61% of Washington cities
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families, retirees
About half an hour north of Emerald City, Bothell is one of the best Seattle suburbs to live in! Not only does the city offer lower housing costs and good safety ratings, but its continuous downtown development initiatives, growing job market, and University of Washington campus have made it a great spot for entrepreneurs, young professionals, and students alike! While Bothell offers a blend of urban-suburban living, it does have excellent outdoor recreation spots close by, too—North Creek Forest is a local favorite!
Things to Do in Bothell
Pick up fresh produce and homemade goods at the Park Ridge Community Farmers Market. Learn more about the history of the Pacific Northwest and the town of Bothell at Bothell Historical Museum. Take paddle-surfing and kayaking lessons, rent your own boat, or explore the Sammamish River with WhatsSup. Play board and card games while enjoying craft brews on tap at Zulu’s Board Game Cafe. Grab breakfast with dishes like the California Benedict, Pulled Pork Breakfast Burrito, or Corned Beef Hash at Crystal Creek Cafe. Get some of the best Italian food in the Seattle area at Amaro Bistro, where you can order their in-house specialty Stone Hearth Pizza. Enjoy classic American eats like a Grilled New York Strip, Double Cut Pork Chop, or Pan Seared Chicken Breast at Russell’s. Or stop by Carolina Smoke BBQ for BBQ plates like a Pulled Pork Sandwich, Brisket by the Pound, or a half rack of Pork Ribs.
Mercer Island
Photo via @weaverconstructionllc
- Home Price: $956,200 median purchase price; $1,793 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Washington cities
- Perfect For: Families, retirees
If you want to live in a safe Seattle suburb with luxurious homes, Mercer Island has everything you’re looking for! Not only does its location on Lake Washington make this suburb an escape for those wanting to avoid the city, but its convenient access to I-90 also means commuting into Seattle and Bellevue is easy! Additionally, some of the best public and private schools in Seattle can be found on Mercer Island, including Lakeridge Elementary School, Northwest Yeshiva High School, and Mercer Island High School.
Things to Do in Mercer Island
Take in beautiful art from various cultures around the world at CLARKE & CLARKE Art + Artifacts. Observe gorgeous views of Lake Washington and enjoy waterside recreation like fishing, swimming, and boating at Luther Burbank Park. Find your next favorite book or participate in thought-provoking book clubs at Island Books. Experience some of the best restaurants in the Seattle area with the Taste of Mercer Island Food Tour. Grab a Ham & Swiss or Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Panini at Shawn’s Cafe and Bakery. Order savory pizzas like the Clam Bake, La Formosa, or Pepperoni Puntura at Mioposto Pizzerias. Sink your teeth into an Unbelievable Burger or Meatball Sub at Island Crust Cafe. Or sit down for dinner in the lively local Roanoke Inn, where you can order favorites like the Southwest Chicken Salad, Patty Melt, and Carne Asada Tacos.
Redmond
Photo via @mh_seattle_realestate
- Home Price: $525,000 median purchase price; $1,617 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 42% of Washington cities
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families
Redmond is a no-brainer for those looking to break into the competitive Seattle job market! In addition to professional development offered at nearby Lake Washington Institute of Technology, some of the best tech job opportunities can be found within Redmond itself at companies like Terex, Nintendo, and the Microsoft Millennium Campus headquarters. This Seattle suburb also offers great shopping and dining at Redmond Town Center and expansive green spaces like Sammamish Valley Park and Marymoor Park.
Things to Do in Redmond
Test your inner secret agent by trying the Museum Heist and other escape room scenarios at Flee. Attend an outdoor concert, have a picnic, or take your furry friend to the off-leash dog park at Marymoor Park. Check out the Microsoft Visitor Center to learn about the history of one of the biggest tech companies in America, experience mixed-reality technology, or even get a professional photo for your LinkedIn profile. Try delicious Italian dishes like the Chicken Caprese, Bolognese, or Grilled Skirt Steak at Blu Sardinia. Enjoy Indian cuisine at The Guilt Trip, where you can order Seekh Kabob, Lamb Trikone, or Dhaba Corner. Pick up desserts like the Mini Mousse Cakes, Coffee Honey Cake, or Strawberry Mint Lemon Tartlet at La Cherie Bakery. Or stop over at Postdoc Brewing to try some delicious local brews like the Equifinality, Demon Star, and Spacewalk.
Sammamish
Photo via @pnwhomephotography
- Home Price: $624,800 median purchase price; $1,982 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 95% of Washington cities
- Perfect For: Families, retirees
An ideal Seattle suburb for families, Sammamish features tree-lined streets, some of the best safety ratings in the metro, and great schools like Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, Creekside Elementary School, and Eastlake High School. But what really makes Sammamish stand out is the convenient access to Washington’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation. This Seattle suburb is bordered on the west by Lake Sammamish, and it’s home to Evans Creek Preserve, Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, and several local parks!
Things to Do in Sammamish
Participate in public outreach projects like food drives and celebrate with monthly festivals at the Vedic Cultural Center. Take a hike through the 12 miles of scenic woodland trails at Soaring Eagle Regional Park. Laugh yourself to stitches during a Whimsical Wednesday comedy show and partake in various special events put on by the city. Challenge friends or family to tennis or pickleball or just enjoy a picnic at East Sammamish Park. Become a member at one of the best golf courses in Washington to gain access to fine dining and 18 holes of championship-grade green at Sahalee Country Club. Savor authentic Vietnamese dishes like the Steak or Chicken Pho and Lemongrass Pork Spring Rolls at Vinason Pho Kitchen. Stop by Tanoor for Dajaj Mishweh, Tanoor Lamb Chops, or Tanoor Ribeye Steak. Go out for sushi at Big Fish Sushi, where you can try the Red Surf Clam or Amberjack. Or enjoy dinner with craft beers like the Founders Barrel-Aged CBS, Old Schoolhouse Hop Massager IPA, and Stoup NW Red Ale at Pine Lake Ale House.
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Suburb statistics from AreaVibes
