While less mainstream than other Seattle suburban cities, Mill Creek East is quietly gaining popularity with colorful modern houses and 21st-century architecture. This North Side city, with a population of 25,000, has access to commuter corridors and energetic town centers, such as Bothell and Mill Creek. In 2024, Forbes ranked it among the 25 wealthiest cities in Washington. "It's the great schools and the high-value properties," says Namita Arora, a Bothell resident and Real Estate Agent at Dulay Homes LLC. "The green spaces are turning into concrete spaces, and newer builds draw the crowds."
Architecture and atmosphere
Mill Creek East has New Traditional and contemporary architecture in areas with new construction. The North Creek Subdivision features homes built in 2024, reaching 4,000 square feet. The median single-family price is about $1.2 million, significantly higher than the national median. Prices are slightly higher than the Seattle single-family median of about $950,000.
Employment through tech companies like Boeing
Many Snohomish County residents work at iconic technology companies in the Pacific Northwest. The Boeing Company has 15,000 employees in the area. Microsoft and Amazon are also significant companies headquartered nearby. Providence Swedish provides healthcare to the area, with an emergency room about 5 miles north of the city.
The Mill Creek Town Center - a lively dining district
Mill Creek East has a concentration of Indian restaurants, Vietnamese cuisine and a casino along the Bothell Everett Highway. Thrasher's Corner is south of town, with more eateries and supermarkets like Safeway and Fred Meyer.
On Fridays in the summer, the Mill Creek Farmers Market is in the Mill Creek Town Center, a walkable Main Street dining district with various local establishments about 3 miles north. "There are a lot of restaurants, and the food is very good," Arora says.
The Mill Creek Town Center is also a hub for community events. The Mill Creek Festival is a weekend-long celebration in July. There is also a summer concert series, an art walk and Party in the Parks, a National Night Out event where the community gathers for festivities in Highlands Park.
A-rated schools in the Everett School District
The Everett School District earns an A-minus from Niche, which also ranks it the third-best district in Snohomish County. The district has 21 elementary, eight middle and nine high schools attended by more than 20,000 students. Students can also request an intradistrict transfer to institutions. "Schools were our motive when we moved to the area," Arora says. "The schools definitely matter to people with kids, and they affect the property price."
The boardwalk path in North Creek Park
Timbark Creek Park is the city's central greenspace with woodland walking trails, athletic fields and a playground. Another area is North Creek Park, which has a boardwalk path through a wetland marsh inhabited by wildlife. Highlands Park has various courts for tennis, basketball and pickleball, alongside a playground.
Decreasing crime and a Mediterranean climate with wet winters
In 2023, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reported a 3% decrease in overall crime and a 20% decrease in property crime compared to 2022 data.
The region has a Mediterranean climate with wet winters that bring cloudy skies and frequent rainfall, although summers are warm and dry.
Access to multiple interstates and bus routes
Community Transit provides several bus routes in Mill Creek East, while Sound Transit is also available at the nearby park-and-ride areas. Washington Route 527, also known as the Bothell Everett Highway, runs along the west of Mill Creek East, connecting to Interstate 405 and Interstate 5. Bellevue is around 20 miles south taking I-405, while Downtown Seattle is about 25 miles south along I-5. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport provides flights to worldwide destinations.
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Video By
Mallory Nolte
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Mill Creek East Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Mill Creek East, WA sell after 23 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Mill Creek East, WA over the last 12 months is $1,025,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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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.
