Best Places to Live
Looking for a home base outside of Seattle? We have you covered with this handy guide to six of the region’s most appealing cities.
Best Places to Live: Bellevue
A growing tech hub across the lake.
Long known as a quiet, bedroom community to Seattle, Bellevue has emerged as one of the region’s social and economic power hubs. Boasting a diverse population and some of the state’s top-ranked schools, this Eastside city has experienced continued growth in recent years, with families and young professionals topping out its ranks of new residents….
Best Places to Live: Gig Harbor
For a quiet retirement—or just a slower pace.
In the south sound, gig harbor lures people with the promise of tranquility, space, and some of the most striking views in the region. The city’s picturesque history stretches back to the 1840s—it was named after the small captain’s gig in which the Wilkes Expedition first arrived—and it has evolved into a scenic community known…
Best Places to Live: Normandy Park
A place apart —but still close to everything.
Normandy Park is a place people choose deliberately. First laid out in 1929 as a suburb, the area grew after the city incorporated in 1953, but it was still home to fewer than 2,000 residents. Much of the land had previously been logged or farmed, and even as Seattle expanded nearby, Normandy Park took shape…
Best Places to Live: Black Diamond
Where to live if you want more space (and love the outdoors).
Black Diamond has always felt like a town apart—not just in distance from Seattle (39 miles), Renton (18 miles), and Bellevue (28 miles), but in pace and personality. Located in southeastern King County, the former coal mining hotspot dates back to the late 19th century, taking its name from the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company….
Best Places to Live: Woodinville
A close-knit, family-friendly community.
Say Woodinville, and the first thing most people think of is wine, but with a growing arts scene, independent agricultural ventures, and top-notch hospitality holdings, this formerly sleepy suburb is stepping up to become a coveted destination for buying a home. “It still feels like a true community, where people know each other and local…
Best Places to Live: Everett
For those looking to get in on the ground level.
Less than 30 miles north of Seattle, Everett was built from working-class roots, with industries such as logging, lumber, and aerospace manufacturing at its core. In recent years, the city has enticed an increasingly younger crowd attracted by housing affordability and job opportunities. “We’re seeing mostly working-age talent in their late 20s to early 40s…
About
At Seattle magazine, we usually keep the focus on our titular city. For this series, though, we looked just beyond it—to a handful of Western Washington spots getting buzzy attention. Some are growing fast, others offer a slower, more community-focused pace. From more space in places like Black Diamond or Woodinville to strong schools and busy dining scenes in Bellevue, each has its own pull. We spoke with realtors, residents, and chamber members to understand what sets these six cities apart.
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