West Lake Stevens

Lake Stevens is a rapidly growing Seattle suburb characterized by natural beauty and quiet living. Though West Lake Stevens doesn’t actually offer any lakeside properties, residents are only a few miles from the water and enjoy living near the commercial hubs of the city.

West Lake Stevens offers living that is less expensive than the houses around the lake itself. Colorful and contemporary clapboard homes with three bedrooms go for $500,000 to $700,000. Five-bedroom homes can get up to $1 million when they are situated on larger lots. Most streets have sidewalks and streetlamps, and yards are just big enough for a decorative tree or bushes. The area is also home to a few senior living communities where mobile homes and small houses go for $70,000 to $250,000. Under 20th Street SE, there are fewer houses, usually with large lots and a more rural feel. “The west side of Lake Stevens has a mix of everything,” explains Bryce Greenleaf, a real estate broker with Skyline Properties Ltd who specializes in the area. “People pick the east side because it feels busier and more connected than the rest of the city; it's where all the commercial stuff is.”

The main commercial hub is the Frontier Village Shopping Center, which offers a selection of chain restaurants interspersed with locally owned restaurants. The RAM’s indulgent American fare is a neighborhood staple, and LJ’s Bistro and Bar is a family-owned neighborhood favorite for brunch and dinner. For tastes from further abroad, Royal House Biryani House and Viet Thai Noodle House are popular choices. The shopping center is also home to Target, Safeway and other big box stores. Or head two miles south to stop by the neighborhood Costco.

But it's not all retail. Frontier Heights Park has a playground with unique wooden play structures, and Cavalero Hill has a dog park and skate park. Two miles away, Davies Beach offers lake access, with a wraparound dock great for launching boats, fishing and spending a day in the sun. "Parks are the way that those who don't live on the water get to enjoy the lake," explains Jill Mies, the Parks Planning & Development Coordinator for Lake Stevens. "All our parks are free to the public — we only charge for boat launching or boat parking — and we are constantly listening to the community to learn how to make our parks even better." There are several parks around the lake that offer waterfront fun and community activities like farmers markets and holiday celebrations. And the lake really comes alive during Aquafest, a July summer festival of food, music and outdoor fun.

Kids in the neighborhood can attend Hillcrest Elementary School, which receives an A-minus from Niche. Then it’s on to Lake Stevens Middle for grades six and seven, which receives a B-plus. Cavelero Mid High School is located right within the neighborhood, also receives a B-plus and serves all the eighth and ninth graders in the district. The morning bus ride to Cavelero is famously held up by traffic, but some residents of West Lake Stevens are close enough to make the walk instead. Students then finish out at Lake Stevens High School, rated A-minus. Lake Stevens High is known for its sports programs and gets a 9/10 college readiness score from GreatSchools because of its Career and Technical Education program. The Lake Stevens School District is often a draw to the area and is ranked second in Snohomish County by Niche.

West Lake Stevens may be a busier area, but many residents still make the commute to larger cities. Marysville is 7 miles north, and cities like Everett, Lynnwood and all the way down to Seattle are difficult to get to with the traffic in the area. The stretch of US Highway 2 that connects Lake Stevens to the greater Seattle area is called “the trestle” by locals and is often jam-packed during rush hour. As a result, the 20-minute trip to Everett or the 45-minute trip to Seattle can easily double in time. Since the nearby cities offer larger hospitals, airports, and bigger shopping malls — as well as touristy attractions and nightlife — the residents of West Lake Stevens tend to plan for trips that fall outside of rush hour times.

Written By

Catherine Lashley

Photography Contributed By

Ren Dodge

Video By

Michael McAdams