Why Bothell Keeps Landing on Our Buyers’ Short List

My team has closed dozens of Bothell sales in the past few years, and every transaction confirms what our millennial house-hunters already suspect: you don’t have to pick between great schools, outdoor living, and Eastside paychecks. Prices in Kirkland, Bellevue, and Issaquah have sprinted ahead. Yet, Bothell still delivers more square footage for the money—while the A-rated, #2-ranked Northshore School District gives families the academic depth they crave without the Bellevue-level sticker shock. niche.com

Room to grow—without breaking the budget

• Median prices (May–June 2025): roughly $1.17 M for single-family, $950 K for townhomes, and $490 K for condos—all well below many peer ZIP codes on the Eastside.

• Homes still go pending in about one week, proving demand is resilient even as broader markets wobble.

Small-town heart, big-city access

Peak-hour drives average 40-60 min to Amazon’s South Lake Union hub and 25-30 min to Microsoft’s Redmond campus; off-peak they’re closer to 25 min and 15 min, respectively. But many commuters swap the wheel for Wi-Fi:

• Microsoft Connector boards at Brickyard and Canyon Park and reaches Redmond in ≈ 30-45 min.

• Amazon Ride offers a one-seat coach from Bothell to SLU in about 45-60 min.

• Public transit: hop ST Express 522 → Link light rail → SLU Streetcar (≈ 1 h 15 m) or take Metro’s peak-only Route 322 for a 45-min no-transfer express. rome2rio.comrome2rio.com

A downtown hitting its stride

Fifteen years of civic investment—capped by the ongoing Downtown Subarea Plan update—have re-imagined Main Street into a walkable mix of cafés, taprooms, and the celebrated McMenamins Anderson School resort, turning weekend “stay-cations” into a five-minute drive. bothellwa.gov

Outdoors at your door

The Sammamish River Trail starts at Blyth Park and glides 10 miles to Redmond’s Marymoor, linking with 30-plus additional miles of Burke-Gilman path—bike commutes and stroller strolls alike. Closer still, the Park at Bothell Landing supplies kayak rentals, summer concerts, playgrounds and a footbridge over the river, proving you don’t have to leave town for fresh air. kingcounty.govbothellwa.gov

Steady returns—and upside baked in

Analysts peg Bothell’s year-over-year appreciation anywhere from +4 % (Zillow) to +10 % (Redfin), out-performing broader King County, even after a frenzied 2023-24 run-up. zillow.comredfin.com With the Stride S2/S3 bus-rapid-transit lines set to launch mid-decade and Lynnwood Link light-rail opening just a short drive north, today’s commute will feel even lighter tomorrow—an equity multiplier few suburbs can match. redfin.com

Bottom line: Bothell marries larger homes, nationally recognized schools, river-trail recreation, and multiple tech-friendly commute options—all at prices that still make financial sense. That’s why so many of our clients are choosing to plant roots here, and why we’re confident the value of those roots will keep growing for years to come.