$469,426Average Value$372Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
The Lakes is a village-like suburban community
The Lakes is a community in Kent, a city south of Seattle and north of Tacoma, in the Green River Valley. This area is suburban in character, with a village-like design. "It has a really good combination of home types and is divided into sections. The lakes are little reservoirs put in for looks; they aren't for swimming," says Bart Chmielewski, a real estate agent with Windermere Real Estate/PSK Inc. The Lakes has a high flood risk due to its water features and proximity to the river; the city does have flood abatement procedures.
The Lakes has tons to explore, from expansive views to entertainment and shopping options.
Live in a gorgeous condo looking out over the water in The Lakes.
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Many sub-communities; homeowners associations are standard
There are 19 sub-communities within The Lakes. "I actually used to live there, in a gated community. The one I lived in was like 40 houses. You go blocks over, and there's another one," Chmielewski says. Home options include single-family homes, townhouses, condos and apartments, each with individual homeowners associations. "They are basically providing maintenance and making sure people upkeep their yards," Chmielewski says. The Lakes at Kent Community Organization has overarching rules and regulations and holds regular HOA meetings.
Rows of craftsman homes sit on charming residential lanes around the The Lakes.
The Lakes features a wide variety of condos with a diverse range of architectural styles.
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Parks and trails along the Green River, a nearby golf course
On the west side of The Lake, close to the Green River, Eagle View Park has a playground, exercise equipment and a basketball court. "Literally, you could just walk directly to the river, and there's a trail that goes all around that. I used to ride my bike, 8 or 9 miles to work on the trail," Chmielewski says. The Green River Trail leads northward from Kent to the edge of Seattle. South of The Lakes, there's Hogan Park, with trails, baseball fields and batting cages, and the Kent Valley Ice Center, for ice skating and miniature golf. Full-size golf is available just down the road at the River Bend Golf Complex, which is owned and operated by the city.
Watch the locals play hockey at the Kent Valley Ice Centre.
The Green River winds its way along The Lakes neighborhood and is a site to see.
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Area public schools that are rated B-minus and C by Niche
Public schools include Neely O'Brien Elementary School and Mill Creek Middle School, each earning a C grade from Niche. Kent-Meridian High School has a B-minus. Student productions and outside performances are held at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center on campus.
Neely-O’Brien Elementary has a C rating on Niche, and serves the younger students in Riverfront.
Students in the lakes may attend
Mill Creek Middle School, a public school in Kent.
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Kent events during the year, Thunderbird and Tacoma Stars games
Events in the city include the month-long Kent Winterfest, Kent Kids Arts Day in March, the Fourth of July Splash and a summer concert series at Lake Meridian Park. Talent Quest, previously known as Kent Has Talent, includes contestants from surrounding south King County communities as of 2025. Many people visit the accesso ShoWare Center for concerts and events. ShoWare has home games for the minor-league hockey team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, and The Tacoma Stars, a professional indoor soccer team.
Salsa in the Streets is a great annual event to attend near The Lakes.
Attend an event or hockey game at ShoWare Center a few minutes from The Lakes.
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A walkable, low-traffic community with access to buses and freeways
The Lakes is walkable and has lots of trees and shade. "There are nice sidewalks, and it's pretty safe. And there are no through streets, so not much traffic," Chmielewski says. "If you have kids, it's nice to not have to worry about speeding." King County Metro buses stop along Lakeside Boulevard, which connects to other roads in a loop around several of the lakes. Kent Station is downtown, about 2 miles to the east, and offers Sound Transit buses and commuter rail service on the Sounder S Line. The Lakes is between state Route 167 and Interstate 5, and state Route 516 is to the south. Tacoma, Seattle and Bellevue are each within a 20-drive and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, commonly known as Sea-Tac, is about 7 miles away.
Shopping and dining close by and at Kent Station mall
West Meeker Street and state Route 181 are some of the closest commercial corridors. Crossgate Shopping Center includes Serenity Moon Tea and Afshar Bakery for pastries, halal pizza and groceries. There's also a Safeway in the area. Grocery stores like Public Halal Market, Hong Kong Market and La Huerta Mexican & Latin Market are within several miles and offer a sampling of Kent's multicultural flavor.
Downtown Kent is a couple of miles east of The Lakes, and many people go there for the Kent Station shopping mall. There are approximately 50 stores and restaurants and an AMC movie theater. Town Square Plaza on Smith Street hosts the Kent Farmers Market on Saturdays in the summer.
Grab something sweet or grab some groceries at Afshar Bakery near The Lakes.
Stop by Serenity Moon Tea to buy tea for home or to have a soothing drink near The Lakes.
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Single-family home prices trend higher than condos and townhomes
Single-family homes are sought after, so there may be few available at a time. The median price for single-family sold over a year as of March 2025 was $485,000, and estimated home values went up to the $800,000s. Condos and townhomes start in the high $300,000s. Most homes were built in the late 1980s to the early 2000s.
Some residential lanes in The Lakes feature newly built craftsman homes.
Most of the condominiums in The Lakes are built right up to the water.
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cindy Kelly,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Russell Woods Park
Bike Trails
Trails
Parking Lot
Kherson Park
Picnic Area
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Town Square Plaza
Transit
Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International
17 min drive
Bus
Lakeside Blvd W & Lakeside Blvd E
Bus
64th Ave S & S 231st St
Bus
64th Ave S & S 228th St
Bus
53rd Pl S & 54th Ave S
Bus
Lakeside Blvd W & 55th Pl S
Bus
S 233rd St & Lakeside Blvd E
Bus
Lakeside Blvd E & S 228th St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
The Lakes
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
The Lakes Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in The Lakes, Kent sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in The Lakes, Kent over the last 12 months is $425,000, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Sought-after GATED neighborhood, quiet & conveniently located at Kent Lakes. Lots of natural light in this corner unit with patio overlooking the lake. MAIN FLOOR primary suite w/ vaulted ceiling plus large walk-in closet, large soaking tub, separate shower & double sinks. Vaulted living/dining accented by gas fireplace & adjacent built-in shelving/cabinetry w/ accent lighting. Sun-washed
Beautiful updated townhome in Bayview! Features engineered dark laminate flooring, an open-concept kitchen with newer cabinets and pantry, Corian countertops, and stainless steel appliances. The cozy living room includes a gas fireplace and sliders that open to a private deck. Enjoy a corner bar, custom closet organizers in the primary suite, and updated bathrooms with quartz countertops.
This beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath corner unit townhome offers the perfect blend of comfort, space, & privacy. Soaring vaulted ceilings & oversized windows fill the home w/ natural light, creating a warm & welcoming atmosphere. The well-appointed eat-in kitchen connects seamlessly to the dining area—ideal for casual meals or entertaining. The main floor includes a convenient laundry
Welcome to ReNew Water’s Edge, offering the convenience of an ideal Puget Sound address with unbeatable community amenities. Live by the lakeside in a one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartment home with your tastes in mind. Our renovated homes showcase quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, matte black fixtures, and upgraded flooring. You’ll love being a part of our pet-friendly community
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cindy Kelly,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
4,658
Median Age
39
Population under 18
22.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$81,521
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$93,557
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.9%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
38.6%
Advanced Degrees
9.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.9%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
37°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
67/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
19/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
38/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
