March 17, 2023
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The Best Suburbs in Seattle

Moving to a new city is always challenging. A big portion of that challenge is finding a good place to live, especially when you don’t know what it has to offer.

We’ve got your back! That’s why we packed this article with information about Seattle to see if it’s the right fit for you!

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We’ve done the research for you, so you don’t have to.

You’ve no doubt seen our Seattle City Guide, which includes a short section on a few of Seattle’s most popular neighborhoods (oh, and by way of introduction, we’re Bellhop—Seattle movers and movers throughout the country).

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A Little About Seattle’s Suburbs

Lining the shores of Lake Washington, Renton offers lots of opportunities and is a place where families and businesses thrive.  A drive to downtown Seattle will take about 25 minutes. With more than 2,000 software companies within a 30-mile radius, more than 2,800 acres of parks and playgrounds and a school district that boasts four Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Renton continues to draw families and professionals from across the country. 

History of Renton

The first pioneers that settled in Renton built a sawmill and mined ore in the 1850s, but conflicts erupted with Native Americans, causing the mill to burn down and forcing most of the settlers to leave. By 1910, a community was re-established with churches, schools and businesses. Boeing then moved to the area in 1941, putting Renton on the map. And the rest, they say, is history.

What’s Happening in Renton

Not only does Renton have the state’s only IKEA, but it’s got an impressive collection of public art, and a vintage-style shopping center called The Landing. The Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park is a 57-acre park on Lake Washington that offers swimming, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, and picnic areas, not to mention two food stands: Ivar’s and Kidd Valley.

The Cedar River Park provides a giant playfield as well as access to the Cedar River hiking trail. Also located there is the Renton Community Center, where you can take part in all kinds of sports and activities, from arts and crafts to dance classes, and the Carco Theatre, a venue for concerts and plays for all ages.

Downtown Renton has great places to eat, like the Melrose Grill, which has been around since 1901, and the more recent Liberty Café, serving some of the best coffee in the area. Also, you might enjoy The Met Wine Bar, A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub and Pop! Gourmet Popcorn.

Schools in Renton

The Renton School District is an above-average public school district with a cultreally diverse student population. In 2020, it was one of only 35 in the state to have received the “What Parents Want” Award. They serve more than 15,000 students across grades K-12 with five elementary, middle, and high schools.

Homes in Renton

The average home price in Renton is $605,000, which is slightly more than the national average. Rental prices are around $2,196 per month. .

Bothell

Bothell is about 30 minutes away from downtown Seattle, close enough to easily access everything it has to offer but far enough removed for residents to enjoy a more laid-back way of life. Growing at a rapid rate, the city of Bothell straddles King and Snohomish counties and is just minutes away from Woodinville wine country and Bellevue shopping. It’s recently gotten a new city hall and a number of mixed-use apartment and retail projects.

History of Bothell

Bothell was officially incorporated in 1909. After World War II, new neighborhoods were built as better roads were paved, dramatically expanding the population from around 1,000 to more than 30,000 residents as of 2006. Mostly a bedroom community for people working in Seattle until the 1990s, when biotechnology and software businesses began expanding to the area, and a campus of the University of Washington was built there. In 2010, the city began a $150 million program to redevelop its downtown.

What’s Happening in Bothell

Take a day hike to nearby Bridal Veil Falls, get a spa treatment, go shopping, eat at Russell’s Restaurant, or go on a craft beer or distillery tour. Bothell also boasts the Sammamish River Trail, an 11-mile paved path that winds along a meandering river. There’s plenty to explore in Bothell.

Schools in Bothell

Bothell is part of the Northshore School District, which ranks in the top 10 best districts in the state. They have over 23,000 students enrolled in nine elementary, middle and high schools. Bothell  also is home to Cascadia College and the University of Washington Bothell.

Homes in Bothell

The average home price you’ll find in Bothell is around $875,000 because the market for this area is competitive., Rentals are around $2,2100 a month. 

Lake Forest Park

Lake Forest Park is a quiet residential bedroom community for residents who work in Seattle. A drive to downtown Seattle will take about half an hour for those working in the area. A lot of the homes were built between the 1950s and 1970s, and are perched on a hill that overlooks Lake Washington. It’s located between Seattle and Kenmore. The area has a low crime rate in comparison to other cities in Washington.

History of Lake Forest Park

Lake Forest Park began in the late 1800s when loggers began settling there to harvest the nearby forest. Ole Hanson, a real estate developer, recognized the potential in the area and bought up land and promoted the area for its scenic beauty in 1912. By 1950, the area had exploded with new residents, with long-time residents soon incorporating it as a city. Today, the land is still heavily lined with forest with roads along hills and ridges, much as it was in the early 20th century.

What’s Happening in Lake Forest Park

For the most part, there’s not much going on in Lake Forest Park, which is a good thing. The one commercial area is along Bothell Way. The Town Center mall has all of the area’s grocery stores, banks, and other shopping, along with the library. It also houses the very popular bookstore Third Place Books. Outdoor enthusiasts will like the close access to the Burke-Gilman Trail that runs along Lake Washington. If you are lucky enough to live on the east side of Bothell Way, the Burke-Gilman may pass right next to your house.

Schools in Lake Forest Park

Thearea is served by the highly-rated Shoreline School District, which includes one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools, includingLake Forest High School, Brookside Elementary School, and Lake Forest Park Elementary School.

Homes in Lake Forest Park

The cost for a home in the area is $810,000 with many homes selling above the list price. . Apartments in Lake Forest Park are an average of $1,900 per month.

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Bellevue

Just east of Seattle is Bellevue, with a booming commercial core and lots of home options. Amid the towering skyscrapers are tree-lined residential streets, lush parks, plus restaurant and shopping options. Bellevue has public transportation, making it easy to get to Seattle (in about 20 minutes by car or half an hour by bus) and nearby Redmond. It’s also got excellent schools and an abundance to do outside of work.

History of Bellevue

William Meydenbauer and Aaron Mercer moved to Seattle, specifically to the east side of Lake Washington in the late 1860s. By the mid-1900s, the area was known for its berry farms and scenic views, or “Bellevue”, meaning “beautiful view” in French. After the construction of the I-90 bridge, which allowed residents to live on the east side and easily commute to Seattle, city planners developed a trendy downtown area. Today, Bellevue is one of the premier suburbs in the Seattle area.

What’s Happening in Bellevue

There’s so much to do in Bellevue. Downtown offers tons of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. There are also areas like Crossroads to the east and Factoria to the south, with plenty to do and see without having to deal with traffic and parking. The Meydenbauer Center, the Bellevue Arts Museum and the KidsQuest Children’s Museum are all great stops for people of all ages.

Also, don’t miss the Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm, where you can pick all of the fresh berries you want for a ridiculously cheap price. Bellevue’s cleverly-designed park, Kelsey Creek Park, has two historic barns, classes and tours for kids and adults, and even farm animals grazing about it’s a great farm oasis in the middle of a bustling city. And, there are the standard hiking and walking trails and places for picnics. Then there’s Bellevue Downtown Park with its manicured expanse of lawn, and waterfall feature.

Schools in Bellevue

Though there are tons of schools in the Bellevue School District, which ranks one of the best districts in Washington with some of the best teachers in the state. There are multiple elementary, middle and high schools for an average of 20,000 students. 

Homes in Bellevue

Home prices in Bellevue are far above the national average, so the median listing price is $1.2 million. Rentals in the area average $2.670 monthly. 

Newcastle

Newcastle is a city in King County. It’s known for its 36-hole, 350-acre golf complex, which features two championship courses. It’s one of the best suburbs to live in Seattle and is just 20 minutes from downtown. Many families and young professionals live there and own their homes. There are a lot of coffee shops and parks, and the overall feeling of the area is laid-back and peaceful.

History of Newcastle

The town of Newcastle has been an important settlement and town since the late 19th century and played a major role in Seattle’s development. One of the region’s earliest coal mining areas, it was originally known as Newport Hills. Its railroad link to Seattle was the first in King County. When Newport became its own city in 1994, it changed its name to Newcastle.

What’s Happening in Newcastle

Check out the community event calendar to see all of the exciting events going on in at Newcastle. There are plenty of outdoor activities, such as Newcastle Beach or Coal Creek Park, both of which may *technically* be in Bellevue, but are still way worth a visit. The business district in Newcastle is centered along Coal Creek Parkway, where you can find plenty of chain restaurants. For a more local experience, try Tapatio Mexican Grill, Yea’s Wok and Sweet Decadence Chocolates.

Schools in Newcastle

The city of Newcastle is served by two school districts, the Issaquah School District and the Renton School District. The three in-city schools are Newcastle Elementary, Hazelwood Elementary, which is considered above-average in public schools, and Vera Risdon Middle School, which ranks above average in academic test scores

Homes in Newcastle

The average sales price for a home in Newcastle is in the million-dollar range, sometimes going as high as $2.5 million., Rentals average around $2.297.

There you have it: the best suburbs of Seattle

Neighborhoods are about location and lifestyle, to be sure. But more importantly, they are about the people who live in them. These neighborhoods offer a variety of lifestyles to meet most anyone’s needs.

We hope this guide helps you make the right choice to fit your lifestyle. If you decide to move in or to Seattle don’t hesitate to reach out.  We have local movers in Seattle and offer long-distance moves to Seattle as well. Need to move quickly? We also provide last minute moving services in Seattle and other nearby cities such as Portland should you be interested. Good luck with your move!

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Harrison Stevens
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