$477,015Average Value$343Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
O'Brien, part of Kent Valley, was a town site in the 1860s
O'Brien, an area of King County by the Green River, is several miles north of downtown Kent. The name, used for a former town site, came from the O'Brien family, who moved here in the 1860s. "We kind of refer to it as just 'Kent Valley,'" says Bart Chmielewski, a real estate agent with Windermere Real Estate/PSK Inc. The name is still used in various examples, from a local elementary school to the O'Brien Garden Club. O'Brien is about 17 miles south of Seattle and 22 miles northeast of Tacoma.
It's mainly industrial, with Blue Origin, Boeing and Amazon
The area is primarily industrial and has several business parks. "For the most part, it's pretty much all factories and warehouses," Chmielewski says. Among the top job sites are the headquarters of space technology company Blue Origin, the Boeing Kent Space Center and an Amazon fulfillment center.
With plenty of industrial buildings, O'Brien is a hub for local factories and warehouses.
Folks in the space technology sector might work in O'Brien at the Blue Origin facility.
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There are more renters; buyers often pick condos or townhomes
The residential streets are generally concentrated east and south. Listings are limited, and there are far more renters than homeowners. Those who own are most likely to live in a condo or townhome. Prices are typically in the $300,000s to the $500,000s. The Village on James and Watertree Place are gated communities dating to the 1990s and 2000s. There are a couple of communities of manufactured homes with prices under $100,000. O'Brien has a CAP Index Crime Score of 8 out of 10; the national average is 4. However, in 2025, a 5-year low for city crime was reported by Police Chief Rafael Padilla.
Condominiums are some of the most common styles of homes in the O'Brien neighborhood.
Townhomes are abundant in the O'Brien neighborhood and many come equipped with garages.
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There are freeways close to home and bus routes in the area
In addition to Interstate 5 on the west, state Route 167 is on the east, and state Route 516 is on the south. "The area has really good access to freeways," Chmielewski says. People living closest to busy roads may experience some noise issues. Some roads, such as South 196th Street, have bike lanes. King County Metro has a bus route that runs to Downtown Seattle by way of Tukwila; another goes to Burien with a stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, about 6 miles away. Kent Station offers Sound Transit buses and commuter rail service on the Sounder S Line, a route from Seattle to Tacoma and Lakewood.
Parks and places to explore along the Green River
Close to the river are many recreational spots: parks, wetlands, fishing holes and a greenbelt. The Green River Natural Resources Area draws walkers and birdwatchers, and Van Doren's Landing Park has a playground. Cyclists and hikers use the Interurban Trail and the Green River Trail. There's a risk of flooding from the river, but Kent has implemented flood abatement procedures for the city.
Green River Natural Resources Area in O'Brien draws folks to enjoy trials and birdwatch.
The Green River Trail in O'Brien is often found bustling with activity throughout the day.
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Choices for shopping and dining to the north and to the south
The area around the 68th Avenue South and South 212th Street intersection has some fast-food restaurants and casual dining options, including two barbecue joints: West Valley @ 212th and BBQ Pete's. There's a WinCo Foods on the other side of SR-167, and a few miles north, a 99 Ranch Market and an Ikea store. To the south, Kent Station shopping mall has more than 50 businesses, including chain brands, various restaurants and an AMC movie theater.
A couple barbecue spots in O'Brien, such as award-winning BBQ Pete's, are bustling at lunch.
WinCo Foods near O'Brien is a popular spot for local shoppers to stock up on groceries.
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Area schools include O'Brien Elementary and Kent-Meridian High
Students may attend Kent School District schools like River Ridge Elementary, Neely O'Brien Elementary School and Mill Creek Middle School, which earn C grades from Niche. Kent-Meridian High School, zoned toward the south, has a B-minus, and Kentridge High School, zoned to areas toward the north, has an A. The Renton School District covers neighborhoods farther north.
Mill Creek Middle School is where many O'Brien students can head to before high school.
Kent-Meridian High School near O'Brien has been at its current location since 1951.
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Annual Kent events, plus concerts, soccer and hockey at ShoWare
Among Kent's big events are Kent Winterfest, Kent Kids Arts Day in March and the Fourth of July Splash. Within several miles of O'Brien, the accesso ShoWare Center puts on concerts and community events. The Seattle Thunderbirds, a minor-league hockey team, and The Tacoma Stars, a professional indoor soccer team, are based at ShoWare.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in O'Brien, Kent sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in O'Brien, Kent over the last 12 months is $405,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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