2021 Best Suburbs to Live in Washington

Redmond

• Town in Washington
• Rating 4.46 out of 5  98 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up in Redmond and it’s a great place to live if you can afford it (it’s not uncommon to be surrounded by Teslas on the roads). It’s growing up more now with new apartment buildings going in, but there’s still not much to do in the city itself. That’s okay though, it’s surrounded by nature, other great cities like Kirkland, Woodinville, and Bellevue, and is only 20 mins from Seattle. It’s also super diverse, over 60% of students in the school district are non-white. There are tons of Indian and Asian people who work at Microsoft and Amazon, I sometimes feel like a minority as a white person, but I love all the different cultures. My only qualm is how liberal it is, I’m conservative and definitely don’t feel safe expressing my views because people can be pretty hateful. Also, the Seattle freeze is real and it’s really hard for newcomers to make friends. But overall, it’s a really lovely place to live!
Read 98 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 65,558 Population

Bellevue

• City in Washington
• Rating 4.38 out of 5  165 reviews

Current Resident: Bellevue is a beautiful location in Washington. It is the perfect balance between nature and urban landscapes. Malls filled with famous brand stores and unique finds as well. With a short car ride you can be swimming in a relaxing lake or trekking through a forest. Bellevue is also close enough to the tourist activities, sports venues, and concerts held in Seattle and yet far enough not to be affected by the busy traffic. Lots of founding has helped keep Bellevue a safe and inclusive place to live.
Read 165 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 144,403 Population

Clyde Hill

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 3,329 Population

Sammamish

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.1 out of 5  126 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful trees, lakes, wild berries, and friendly forest animals abound. Wish was also the case with respect to good restraunts, and entertainment options!
Read 126 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 64,674 Population

Yarrow Point

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 1,202 Population

Mercer Island

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.1 out of 5  52 reviews

Current Resident: Mercer Island is a pretty nice Island. When I came in summer 2019 everything was new for me and I was surprised on how nice everyone is here. I'm originally from Germany. Other than from where I come from the people in the Neighborhood in Mercer island make you feel like you are a part of a community Family which I really like. The streets are all nice and clean. In every store you go into, you get welcomed and treated so good. It still amazes me every time I walk into a store on how happy and friendly everyone is.
Read 52 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 25,675 Population

Issaquah

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.22 out of 5  85 reviews

Nearby Resident: Issaquah is a very friendly community. It's a small suburb of Seattle and is full of families. The downtown is old and charming. People who live in Issaquah carry a lot of pride for the little town and it's roots. Issaquah is known for its salmon hatchery and hosts a celebration every September called salmon days. People from all around drive in to visit the festival. The population, living and real estate cost has been on the rise with the growing number of jobs in Seattle proper. Even with the growing population though, the area lacks in diversity. In addition to the lack in diversity, there isn't much to do in Issaquah other than enjoying the nature. The nightlife scene is weak and available activities are mainly just the hiking trails.
Read 85 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 37,965 Population

Newcastle

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.25 out of 5  28 reviews

Current Resident: Newcastle, WA is a picturesque city with easy access to trails and nearby businesses. This location is the right balance of convenience with a suburban feel. My partner and I lived in downtown Bellevue for over a year. The proximity to a grocery store and other businesses was very convenient, however everywhere we went felt very crowded. In Newcastle we were able to rent a townhome for a similar price to the the top floor unit we rented in downtown. While we still had neighbors, we were not all so close to each other in the same building, our unit finishes were upgraded and we have our own garage.

The first few nights were very noticeable, as our new place did not have the constant, ambient traffic noise like that of a downtown area. While some people may find this background noise soothing, we also didn't have random events like fire alarms going off in the middle of the night occur anymore. We will likely be starting our family here.
Read 28 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 11,750 Population

Kirkland

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.28 out of 5  160 reviews

Current Resident: Kirkland is my home; I've lived here since birth. The city is clean, well taken care of, and above all, gorgeous. I absolutely love the amount of things to do here! The downtown area always has events going on and is perfect to grab a quick snack or simply just hang out in with friends or family. One of my favorite things to do is going to downtown and walking around the Marina with a treat from Sirena's Gelato, Lady Yum Macrons, WOW WOW Lemonade, or Shake Shack Fries; the options for food here are endless! The farmers markets in the summer are also a highlight. The schools and people in Kirkland are also amazing; I've met so many awesome people here and my education through the public schools has been amazing. Furthermore, every single neighborhood here is perfect for family and kids. I've really enjoyed riding my bike safely around my neighborhood and stopping to talk to people along the way. I wouldn't trade living here for anything.
Read 160 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 89,438 Population

Lake Forest Park

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.98 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: Trees, trees, trees, big lots, safety, and community feel are wonderful. I chose LFP b/c it's the most densely forested urban area in the Lower 48. We're committed to preserving that.
3 negatives:
1. Noisiest place I've ever lived due to being on the flight path to SeaTac. Passenger jets roar overhead at all hours. Often <60 seconds between flights, not even enough time to log them all to airnoise.io. Burien, SeaTac, etc. got help; FAA ignores N. Seattle, the noise and air pollution. This is all SeaTac -- we do not get Paine Field (Everett) air traffic.
2. The City Council is all about revenue. No, we do not need to "keep up" with "progress" by increasing density and cutting down trees. People move to LFP for the trees.
3. Very high taxes, City keeps adding more. No transparency on where it goes. A ridiculous $40 fee tacked onto our car tabs every year for "transportation" -- what transportation? Nobody answers that question.
Read 40 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 13,430 Population

Woodway

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: Perfect. Would never move.
Read 11 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 1,105 Population

Medina

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• grade A

• grade A+

• 3,267 Population

Bothell

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.15 out of 5  165 reviews

Current Resident: Bothell's quiet downtown has grown up a lot in the last few years. What was once a mere intersection of two highways surrounded by some single story mom-and-pop shops has now become a destination for locals. Main Street has some great places to have a bite and a drink. You'll find one of the state's premier board game cafés, a brewhouse with nearly 30 beers on tap, antique shops and coffee houses. Visit the annual Beer and Wine Walk, where many of downtown Bothell shop owners open their doors for patrons to stop in and grab a glass of their favorite beverage, or try something new! For residents, there are new mixed-use condominiums with eateries and shops at street level. One of the regional favorites is the Anderson School House, a recently-renovated once-private school from decades ago. It boasts several bars, restaurants, a hotel, a cinema and a pool - which is open year round. If fitness is of interest, enjoy the paved Burke Gilman Trail that runs along the winding slough.
Read 165 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 45,749 Population

Cottage Lake

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.88 out of 5  25 reviews

Niche User: Woodinville is one of the most safe places to grow up and live. I have lived here my entire life and the most crime I have been around was a couple of string robberies in my area (but it was taken care of quickly). We have a wonderful police and fire department and the only graffiti I have seen is on the designated graffiti wall. Everyone's houses and yards are well kept, the roads and street lights are in perfect condition and I have never seen an abandoned house or building.
Read 25 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 22,677 Population

Snoqualmie

• Town in Washington
• Rating 4 out of 5  40 reviews

Niche User: There is fantastic scenery in the area. There are lots of hikes and outdoor opportunities for those who enjoy to spend time in nature such as myself. My personal favorite hike that I have been on recently would probably have to be Mount Si. It was quite the trek but it was well worth all the effort it took. When I'm not hiking, Snoqualmie has plenty of swimming locations. The Snoqualmie River can be a bit cold, even in the summer time, but there are ample entry points so that one might be able to swim away from a large crowd.

The schools here are very good. Nearly all of the experience with teachers that I have had in this town were positive ones. However, the diversity in Snoqualmie schools is not. There is hardly any diversity and there is a very vast majority of white students compared to POC in all grade levels.
Read 40 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 13,480 Population

Kenmore

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.91 out of 5  66 reviews

Current Resident: Kenmore is a quiet suburb of Seattle, with easy access to many surrounding cities, and great neighborhoods to raise a family in. Part of the great Northshore School District, schools in Kenmore are thoughtful, and teach students well. Plenty of good restaurants all around- everyone will have a favorite place to eat!
Read 66 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 22,724 Population

Bainbridge Island

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.85 out of 5  47 reviews

Current Resident: Bainbridge Island is a great place to live! The education here is above expectations - especially the public schools. Food here could be improved, but poulsbo supplies additional options. The downside is frankly the Bainbridge islanders Facebook page - people with too much time on their hands! But otherwise I’m very happy to have chosen this place to live. So many extracurricular activities here, well maintained roads, city planned events (such as the Fourth of July parade!), etc.
Read 47 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 24,486 Population

Camas

• Suburb in Washington
• Rating 4.27 out of 5  86 reviews

Current Resident: We moved here in 2017 are very happy with our move here with just a few exceptions. None of us (4 adult family members) found work on this side of the river, and after almost two years here none of us have been able to buy houses/condos...we’re close, but our budgets (low to mid threes) seem to fall just below what’s available IN Camas. And as we moved here partly for schools we need to stay in Camas. We’d anticipated working in WA (thereby saving on taxes) and that plus commute costs have stymied our home-buying attempts. We love the feel of the town though, all the walking trails, cute downtown with frequent activities, the more modern 192nd commercial area for ease of use. I won’t wish a market dip on the rest of you, so I’m working on getting my Portland employer to allow me to work from home....maybe THEN I can afford a house (or cute condo with a view :-) on my (barely) 6 figure income? Lord knows that wasn’t going to happen in CA!
Read 86 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 23,200 Population

Woodinville

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.2 out of 5  59 reviews

Nearby Resident: Such a cute town, lots to do! Very friendly neighbors and close enough to cities and water. Lots of restaurants, most schools are very good and everyone is super friendly.
Read 59 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 12,383 Population

Brier

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.77 out of 5  26 reviews

Current Resident: Brier is a great place to call home. It is in a strategic location and has convenient commute to both downtown Seattle and East side (Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland). The lots are at least Quarter Acres and newer houses are 3000+ sqf. It gives sense of convenience and luxury.
Read 26 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• 6,843 Population

Richland

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.93 out of 5  227 reviews

Former Resident: Richland is a great small town. It is one of three neighboring cities and I think it is by far the safest and most visual appealing city. It has cute shops with delicious food and it has some of the most beautiful parks. There are lots of resources in Richland like the Public library, hospitals, and etc... One thing I would like to see chnage is the roads. The roads need to be redone so there are not as many pot holes. With this change, the city of Richland would be perfect!
Read 227 Reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• 56,399 Population

Shoreline

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.87 out of 5  171 reviews

Current Resident: My husband dragged me to Shoreline kicking and screaming. I wanted to stay in Seattle! We bought in 2014 and don't regret it one bit! We live in the Ridgecrest neighorhood (East of I-5). We are in walking distance to 3 parks (2 super close), The Crest Theatre, Ridgecrest Public House, and Shoreline Library. We have tons of food/grocery options in Shoreline (Central Market, Safeway, QFC, Trader Joe's, Costco) and many others close (Whole Foods, PCC, Spouts, Grocery Outlet). It's a decent commute on public transportation and Sound Transit Light Rail will have 2 light rail stations in 2023 providing access to downtown Seattle in 17 minutes and then on to the airport. Shoreline is very family friendly, with great parks, beach, playgrounds and activities/camps for children (Shoreline Rec Center and YMCA). Where Shoreline can improve is local restaurant and retail options. Looking forward to local Seattle establishments making their way North.
Read 171 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 56,267 Population

West Richland

• Suburb in Washington
• Rating 4.23 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: I've been living here with my parents for the past few years. After I graduated from High School, I started doing volunteer work for a couple years in West Richland, and the greater Tri-Cities. Thanks to that exposure, I've experienced the general politeness of the local neighborhood, and became acquainted with the very efficient Ben Franklin Transit. There appears to be a very healthy, but non-forceful, lifestyle, as can be seen with individuals or families who are seen on the local bike lanes, climbing the simple Rattlesnake mountain, or who often just walk back and forth repeatedly in short periods between houses with themselves and their friends. If there is a one thing I would like to change, is for people to be less aggressive and stubborn regrading opinions of different local minorities.
Read 30 Reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• 14,495 Population

DuPont

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4.07 out of 5  54 reviews

Niche User: The first time I came to DuPont my first impression was "wow this place is beautiful." The neighborhood is very safe and peaceful. We have a lot of parks and playgrounds for family and pets. We also have different fields/courts for sports lovers. The people here are very nice and respectful. If you're someone that likes peace and quiet then DuPont is the ideal place to live and start a family.
Read 54 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• 9,435 Population

Mukilteo

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.98 out of 5  110 reviews

Current Resident: I love my little city. After 23 years of living in Mukilteo, I have completely fallen in love and leaving is always difficult. The beaches are rocky but smell of fresh, salty Pacific Ocean air. Seagulls are in abundance, and one can never go wrong with sampling food from incredible local vendors such as Sabor a Mexico, Z's Burgers, The Red Cup Cafe by the water, and of course: Ivars. Diamond Knot bar is one of my favorite spots, as it sits right next to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal. They truly have an awesome dive bar experience and are always playing great, alt-rock music. What really makes Mukilteo stand out are the views from the different neighborhoods with stunning outlooks of the Puget Sound, Whidby Island, and the ferries crossing the water each day. The magnificent sunsets on a warm, sunny day are another complementing attribute to this tight-knit suburb of Seattle. Only a 25-30 minute drive to downtown Seattle to visit places like Pikes Place or the 5th Avenue Theatre.
Read 110 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 21,336 Population