Burien is a city of 52,000 people located just south of Seattle, between the gentle waves of the Puget Sound and the sights and sounds of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. “You’re in the suburbs of Seattle, so you get on the highway, and it’s easy to get to work,” says Brian Truman, a broker with John L. Scott Real Estate who has over 13 years of experience. “It’s one of the more affordable places, so people who can’t afford something in West Seattle or White Center will go to Burien.”
The Lushootseed-speaking peoples, including the Suquamish and Puyallup, inhabited the area for millennia. Homesteads were established in the 1870s and 1880s, and the community focused on agriculture. Once the Highline Highway was built, connecting Seattle and Tacoma in 1915, Burien neighborhoods shifted to beach-style communities where Seattleites would vacation on the Sound or nearby Lake Burien.
Retail is the city’s second-largest industry. Others include healthcare, spearheaded by Saint Anne Hospital, technology and food services.
Lakefront Homes in Lake Burien.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is conveniently east of Lake Burien.
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Seattle and SeaTac commutes
Washington state Route 509 — or “WA-509” — runs about 10 miles north and ties the community to Seattle and employers in the technology and aerospace industries. WA-509 intersects Washington state Route 518, a connection to Interstate 5, which leads about 30 miles south to Tacoma. King County Metro serves the area with various bus routes, including the “H” and “F” lines, which travel between Seattle and Burien. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — locally known as “SeaTac” — is less than 5 miles east and has both international and domestic flights. In addition to being one of the area’s largest employers, the airport accounts for $22 billion of economic activity. The Sound Transit light rail one line stops around the airport and connects the area to Seattle.
Shopping plazas and Olde Burien’s local businesses
National grocers and major retailers are in shopping plazas along First Avenue. Locally owned businesses and restaurants are centrally located and concentrated in Olde Burien, the city’s downtown district. “Olde Burien is quaint. It has great places to eat and even an old farm feed store that still sells chicks and farm stuff,” Truman says. International food markets and restaurants with Italian, Mexican and Australian cuisines are scattered throughout Olde Burien. Though the theme changes yearly, the Olde Burien Block Party remains a popular July event with food vendors and live music.
Business owners in Downtown Burien show their pride for the community with murals.
A variety of street art such as graffiti can be found along the streets of Downtown Burien.
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Engaging with creatives in Olde Burien
With a growing arts scene downtown, Burien earned the designation of “Creative District” in 2023 by the Washington State Commission. The Highline Performing Arts Center, which hosts annually the Miss World America Pageant, Highline Heritage Museum, Burien Dance Theatre, and studios for photography and painting all contributed to the city’s attribution, along with having a walkable area to appreciate the art, a maker space and a dedication to a cultural and creative economy. The city also welcomes regular farmers markets and the annual Folklorico Festival, which celebrates cultural and artistic Mexican contributions in July.
Olde Burien has many murals sprinkled throughout the area near Lake Burien.
The winner is announced at the 2024 Miss World America Pageant in Burien.
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Downtown condos, Seahurst’s single-family homes and waterfront estates
New traditional, split-level, contemporary and ranch-style homes make up the architecture in suburban neighborhoods such as Seahurst and Five Corners . The city also has sound-side communities, like Maplewild , where midcentury homes and waterfront estates are tucked into the trees. Downtown Burien has numerous condominiums, which are listed from $150,000 to $540,000. Single-family homes have a median price of $725,000, which is over $150,000 less than the King County average, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Modern craftsman-style homes in 5 Corners can come in different colors.
Maplewild features a diverse range of architectural styles.
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Choice programs and skills-focused schools
Highline Public Schools district serves five communities, including all Burien neighborhoods. The district has three choice programs and earns a B-minus grade from Niche. Choice programs include the International Baccalaureate Programme at the B-plus-graded Mount Rainier High School, a health science program at the C-plus-graded Tyee High School and a virtual program at Seahurst Elementary School, which receives a C-minus.
The Puget Sound Skills Center also serves the community with courses varying from marine science and technology to aerospace manufacturing and engineering.
Students in Linde Hill Park attend Highline High School.
Sea Hurst Elementary School is one of the many schools serving Downtown Burien.
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Recreation from Seahurst Park’s wetlands to athletic fields
Trails wind through the wetlands and saltwater shore of Seahurst Ed Munro Park, a popular fishing spot in the city. “Seahurst Park is a fantastic place and, during the summer, a great place for a barbeque or to cool off by the water,” Truman says. Other city parks have trails of varying lengths, and some, such as Chelsea Park, have athletic fields. Adjacent to Moshier Memorial Park’s playing fields, Moshier Community Art Center has a 24-hour studio space with art classes. Burien Community Center also serves the community with art programming.
The nearby Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens exudes natural calm and quiet. Crowds pack into Town Square Park’s open space during regularly scheduled events, including farmers markets on Thursdays throughout the year and the Father’s Day Car Show each June.
Seahurst Ed Munro Park is the jewel of the Burien parks and part of the Seahurst neighborhood.
Take your kids to Dottie Harper Park for a day outdoors in Linde
Hill Park.
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Burien’s crime totals from 2023
According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs’ 2023 annual report, offense totals for both violent and property crimes decreased from 2022 to 2023. Violent crimes decreased by about 6.6%, and property crimes by around 8%. Burien Police assists neighborhood associations in creating a Neighborhood Block Watch, a program designed to meet one's neighbors and educate the community on home security.
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