If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably already read plenty about Bellevue’s fast-growing economy, lush green scapes, thriving downtown areas, and close proximity to Downtown Seattle. Whether you’re a hopeful Bellevue resident or lucky enough to be moving here shortly, there is no better real estate opportunity in the U.S. right now.
For years, Bellevue has appeared on lists of great places to live. Starting in 2008, CNN Money named Bellevue the top city to live in and start a new business. In 2010, Bellevue was named the 4th best city to live in America, and in 2014, USA Today named it the 2nd best place in the country. In short, Bellevue is recognized nationwide as a great place to live. And most recently, Forbes named Bellevue a top place to live with the #1 hottest housing market in the country.
It’s no shock why: in recent years, Bellevue has become a major center for tech hubs. Microsoft, Expedia, T-Mobile, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have a large presence in Bellevue, with more start-ups and companies coming in every year from the tech industry and beyond. There are consistent jobs here and the local economy is booming. However, all that growth brings a high price tag: Bellevue is an exclusive place to live and prices here are higher than in most of the Seattle-Tacoma Area. But once you get in (or maybe you already have!), you’ll never look back. This is the Shannon Campbell Guide to Bellevue.
Neighborhoods
Bellevue is a community of diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. The city has 16 neighborhood areas, each with its own unique character and identity. So, first things first: you’ll want to find out which neighborhood speaks to you. Use this Neighborhood Area Map to take a look. Each section of Bellevue offers luxury city living with access to greenery and close proximity to the water, so you really can’t go wrong!
- BelRed: Being highly developed as we speak! Will have an arts district, parks, and open spaces plus convenient access to the entire region.
- Bridle Trails: The equestrian neighborhood area, acres of residential property devoted to pastures and trails for horses. Residents enjoy the vast green spaces (horse enthusiasts or not!) and the heavily wooded trail system around their homes. Close to the Microsoft campus. Nearby schools include Cherry Crest Elementary School, Odle Middle School, and Sammamish High School.
- Cougar Mountain/Lakemont: A lovely mix of single-family and multi-family homes on the slopes of Cougar Mountain that includes natural, untamed stretches of countryside. A great pedestrian trail network here links homes to neighborhood parks, neighborhoods to each other, Lewis Creek Park and Cougar Mountain Park, and the neighborhood shopping center at Lakemont. FYI: Half of this area is in the Bellevue School District; students in the other half attend schools in the Issaquah and Renton School Districts.
Credit: Darius Cincys
- Crossroads: Right in the heart of Bellevue! The focal point for entertainment, shopping, and community services for area residents. Bustling, densely populated, and richly diverse, Crossroads is characterized by an abundance of large apartment complexes, established single-family neighborhoods, and restaurant and retail establishments, including a seasonal farmers’ market, a popular ethnic food court, and an activity area where residents gather to play chess and other games.
- Downtown: The primary economic and employment center and the fastest-growing residential neighborhood. Upscale apartments and condos along with Downtown Park with Inspiration Playground, the new Meydenbauer Beach Park on the shores of Lake Washington, and KidsQuest Children's Museum next to Downtown Library are all within walking distance. Home of the Bellevue Arts Museum, the summer Jazz Festival, the Wintergrass Music Festival in January, and winter family fun at Snowflake Lane. Enjoy retail therapy at The Bellevue Collection in Bellevue Square or grab a drink at Tavern Hall with friends. For high-end dining, try Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar, Carmine's, or the famous John Howie Steak.
- Eastgate/Factoria: Good mix of retail/residential buildings, plenty of multifamily communities, and established single-family neighborhoods. Marketplace at Factoria provides an assortment of retail services plus a movie theater and a number of local restaurants. The neighborhoods are rich with diversity and culture from all over the world and are highly sought-after by young families and adults seeking access to Bellevue’s top-rated schools like Eastgate Elementary School, Puesta Del Sol Elementary School (offering Spanish immersion), Tyee Middle School, and the award-winning Newport High School. Bellevue College is also located here. Check out MOD Pizza, Katsu Burger, Square Lotus, and Novilhos Brazilian Steakhouse!
- Lake Hills: Bellevue’s most populous residential neighborhood area. Home to two large shopping centers (Lake Hills Village and Kelsey Creek Center) and the growing Bellevue College. Lots of green areas with walking/hiking trails—perfect for an early morning workout. A local favorite is Lil’ Jon Restaurant, an old-school diner with a great breakfast.
- Newport: Includes distinct communities each known for their strong sense of neighborhood identity: Newport Hills, Lake Heights, Greenwich Crest, Lake Lanes, and Newport Shores. With Waterfront homes and beautiful views, this is an exclusive section of town. Served by the Bellevue School District and Renton School District, depending on where you live. Check out the modern and buzzy Resonate Brewery & Pizzeria!
- Northeast Bellevue: Stretching from Lake Sammamish to the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Northeast Bellevue is a tapestry of neighborhoods, parks, and schools. Home to Ardmore Elementary, Sherwood Forest Elementary, and Bennett Elementary as well as top-rated Interlake High School. Here, you’ll find private recreational facilities such as tennis courts, golf courses, and swim clubs. Many residents are employed by Microsoft and other high-tech companies.
- Northwest Bellevue: Great mix of ranch estates, single-family ramblers, extensive remodels, and larger newly-built residential homes. Great location adjacent to downtown, so residents have easy access to downtown amenities. Lots of waterfront activities, beach access to Lake Washington, and a local farmers’ market that runs from May to November. Kids attend Bellevue School District elementary and middle schools within the city limits of Clyde Hill and Medina while high school students attend Bellevue High School. Check out JOEY Bellevue—a local favorite!
- Somerset: The best view in town! You can see across Lake Washington to the Olympic Mountains which is home to one of Bellevue’s most cohesive neighborhood associations. Somerset has many neighborhoods, including Somerset, Forest Hill, Eaglesmere, Westwood Highlands, Forest Park, Forest Park Meadow, Forest Glen, and The Woods. Nearby schools include Somerset Elementary School with students also attending Tyee Middle School and Newport High School.
Credit: tour.vht.com
- West Bellevue: Home to some of Bellevue’s most established and historic neighborhoods like Enatai, Bellecrest, Surrey Downs, Killarney Circle, and Meydenbauer Point, which all provide strong neighborhood associations. Residents enjoy the waterfront at Chism Beach, Chesterfield Beach, and Enatai Beach as well as the Sweylocken boat launch, which provides a place for kayaking and canoeing.
- West Lake Sammamish: Oriented toward the waterfront of Lake Sammamish and Phantom Lake. Residents enjoy a variety of shoreline activities and mountain views, bike and walking trails, and the beauty of Cascade Mountain Park views.
- Wilburton: Bellevue’s historic Wilburton neighborhood is an enclave of single-family and multifamily housing known for its rich history, parks, and wooded areas. Access to Bellevue Botanical Gardens and the 160-acre Kelsey Creek Park. Head to The Pumphouse Bar & Grill, a local favorite for sports, beers, and casual fare.
- Woodridge: Characterized by quiet streets and family homes—many with views of Lake Washington, Downtown Bellevue, and Seattle. Woodridge Elementary School is located here along with two community swimming pools, which attract families to the neighborhood. The future of Woodridge will be served by King County’s development of the EasTrail corridor, providing pedestrians and bicyclists easy access to downtown and throughout Bellevue. Try Chace’s Pancake Corral for a great Sunday brunch!
Schools and education
The Bellevue School District is a top-rated public school district with about 22,000 students in grades PK-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. It frequently ranks among the top 100 districts in the nation with a diverse student body and rigorous college prep and comprehensive language immersion programs in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Bellevue High School or Interlake High School are fantastic places to send your teenagers to prepare them for college and beyond; the teachers there are some of the highest-ranked in Washington.
There are also some wonderful private school options in Bellevue, such as Forest Ridge of Sacred Heart (5-12), Bellevue Christian School (PK-12), and Hillside Student Community School (5-12). Just outside Bellevue is Lakeside School, the #1 private school in the state, The Overlake School, which is ranked #2 in the state, Eastside Prep, The Bush School, and University Prep in Seattle.
Entertainment and nightlife
Downtown Bellevue has the majority of bars and entertainment options, where the most popular by far are Tavern Hall, Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub and Black Bottle in Bellevue Square, and The Pumphouse Bar & Grill in Crossroads. For specific neighborhood restaurants and pubs, see above!
Music venues are found more in Downtown Seattle like Paramount Theatre, Moore Theatre, The Showbox, The Triple Door, Tractor Tavern, and The Crocodile; all of these places have seen the early days of music legends hailing from the Pacific Northwest like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, and more.
You can also catch a Seattle Seahawks game or a Seattle Mariners game at Lumen Field in Downtown Seattle.
Recreational activities
One of Bellevue’s nicknames is “The City in a Park” because Bellevue has an enormous park system that provides you with countless places to visit and spend time in the great outdoors, including the sprawling Downtown Park with Inspiration Playground and waterfall fountains that hosts the annual 4th of July firework display.
Bellevue Downtown Park, Credit: bellevuewa.gov
Bellevue’s Youth Theater hosts year-round youth productions, including theater-in-the-round and outdoor amphitheater shows. Crossroads Park features a nine-hole golf course, a water park for children, and a popular multipurpose park.
Bellevue prides itself on the amount of outdoor recreational opportunities it offers. From miles and miles of hiking trails to biking and local camping spots, if you love to spend time outdoors, Bellevue is the place to be! It also has plenty of outdoor festivals and celebrations to keep you occupied all year long. Check out the Bellevue Botanical Garden, Mercer Slough Nature Park, Meydenbauer Beach Park, Cougar Mountain Regional Park, or any of the water activities on Lake Sammamish.
For golf, The Golf Club at Newcastle has some of the best golf in the Pacific Northwest while Bellevue Golf Club right in town is another hot membership to have.
Living in Bellevue, WA
Whether you’re hoping to move to Bellevue or are new homeowners in the area, Shannon Campbell at Compass Real Estate is here to help. There are many Bellevue and Seattle homes for sale and we are eager to connect with you if you’ve been dreaming of Seattle living! Come see why Pacific Northwest homes for sale are the best in the country.