Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 25#25. Mill Creek
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 20,846
Best places to live in the Seattle metro area
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Seattle metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Seattle
RossHelen // Shutterstock
2 / 25#24. Shoreline
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 59,280
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock
3 / 25#23. Edmonds
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 42,783
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
4 / 25#22. Mukilteo
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 21,312
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 25#21. Duvall
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 8,279
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants for tacos in the Seattle area by diners
F8 studio // Shutterstock
6 / 25#20. North Bend
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 7,745
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 25#19. Medina
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 2,889
imtmphoto // Shutterstock
8 / 25#18. Cottage Lake
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 23,170
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 25#17. Bothell
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 48,610
oneinchpunch // Shutterstock
10 / 25#16. Kenmore
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 23,594
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Seattle for high school graduates
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 25#15. Bainbridge Island
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 24,607
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 25#14. Woodway
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 1,174
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 25#13. Snoqualmie
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 13,750
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock
14 / 25#12. Lake Forest Park
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 13,356
Laura Beach // Shutterstock
15 / 25#11. Seattle
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 741,440
You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Seattle
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
16 / 25#10. Kirkland
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 91,614
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 25#9. Issaquah
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 39,472
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
18 / 25#8. Mercer Island
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 25,282
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
19 / 25#7. Woodinville
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 13,440
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 25#6. Sammamish
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 66,375
You may also like: What salary do I need to afford a house in Seattle in 2026?
FamVeld // Shutterstock
21 / 25#5. Newcastle
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 12,945
Akarawut // Shutterstock
22 / 25#4. Clyde Hill
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 3,104
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 25#3. Yarrow Point
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 1,192
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
24 / 25#2. Bellevue
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 151,199
BAZA Production // Shutterstock
25 / 25#1. Redmond
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 75,721
You may also like: How long does it take to sell a house in Seattle in 2026?
