10 Best Waterfront Neighborhoods Near Seattle (2026 Guide for Relocating Buyers)
The best waterfront areas to live near Seattle include Edmonds, Green Lake, Sammamish, Lake Stevens, Kirkland, West Seattle, Seward Park, Mukilteo, Gig Harbor and Lake Forest Park, each offering Puget Sound or lake access at a different price point and pace of life. If you are relocating to the Seattle area and want to live near the water, this guide will help you narrow down where to look.
By Bryce Greenleaf, Seattle-area Realtor and relocation specialist · Updated September 2026
Seattle waterfront neighborhoods at a glance
These are ten of my personal favorites, and the areas I most often see clients choose when water access is a priority. Median prices are for single-family homes as of September 2026.
| Area | Water access | Vibe | Median price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonds | Puget Sound | Walkable downtown beach town | ~$1,000,000 | Beach lovers who want a real main street |
| Green Lake (Seattle) | Green Lake | Active, outdoorsy city neighborhood | ~$1,100,000 | City living with a lake loop at your door |
| Sammamish | Lake Sammamish, Pine Lake | Upscale Eastside suburb | ~$1,650,000 | Eastside tech commuters and true waterfront buyers |
| Lake Stevens | Lake Stevens | Lake-centered small city | ~$735,000 | Value, boating and remote or north-end workers |
| Kirkland | Lake Washington | Upscale waterfront downtown | ~$1,550,000 | Eastside commuters who want walkable lakefront |
| West Seattle | Puget Sound (Alki) | Beach-town feel inside the city | ~$945,000 | The most affordable beach lifestyle in Seattle |
| Seward Park (Seattle) | Lake Washington | Quiet, suburban-feeling city area | ~$1,100,000 | Southeast Seattle buyers who want trails and a swimming beach |
| Mukilteo | Puget Sound | Calmer, low-key waterfront | ~$1,000,000 | A quieter alternative to Edmonds |
| Gig Harbor | Puget Sound harbor | Sleepy Pacific Northwest maritime town | ~$885,000 | Remote workers and retirees |
| Lake Forest Park | Lake Washington | Wooded, tight-knit suburb | ~$1,100,000 | Seattle commuters who want a calm, quiet setting |
1. Edmonds: the best all-around Puget Sound town
Edmonds, in south Snohomish County just north of Seattle, may be the best all-around waterfront city in Western Washington. Downtown sits right on the water with a main street full of local restaurants, shops and cafes. Brackett's Landing beach is next to the ferry terminal, and a short walk south, Marina Beach offers more sand, a grassy field, a playground, a volleyball court and an off-leash dog beach. It's one of my own family's favorite spots to take our kids. Homes range widely in age and style, and condos offer a lower entry price. Median home price: about $1 million.
2. Green Lake: outdoor living inside Seattle
If you want city living in an active, outdoorsy community, Green Lake is a perfect fit. A 2.8-mile paved loop circles the lake and is busy year-round with walkers, runners, cyclists and pickleball players. The calm lake is great for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding, and the surrounding park has sports fields, courts and picnic space, with coffee shops and restaurants steps away. The neighborhood is small, so inventory is limited. Expect classic Craftsman homes plus more affordable condos and townhomes. Median home price: about $1.1 million.
3. Sammamish: upscale Eastside lake living
Sammamish is a premier Eastside suburb on Lake Sammamish, shaped by decades of tech growth. Homes are newer on average. If you have the budget for a true waterfront home, this is a place to find one. Public access includes Sammamish Landing Park (8 acres with three beach areas and two docks) and nearby Lake Sammamish State Park, which has swimming, a boat launch and a playground. Smaller Pine Lake adds another public swimming and paddling spot. Median home price: about $1.65 million.
4. Lake Stevens: the most affordable lake town on the list
Lake Stevens, in north Snohomish County, is the farthest north on this list, so it's best for hybrid or remote workers, retirees, and people working north of Seattle. The whole city identifies with its lake. Davies Beach has a swimming area and boat launch, Lundeen Park has a big playground and picnic shelters, and the renovated North Cove Park downtown hosts community events and has another boat launch. Homes typically range from the 1970s to new construction, and builders are still active here. Median home price: about $735,000.
5. Kirkland: a walkable downtown on Lake Washington
Kirkland blends a charming downtown with some of the best Lake Washington access on the Eastside. You can stroll boutiques and restaurants and end up at the waterfront park, public boat launch and swimming area. Juanita Beach on the north end adds a large swimming area with a U-shaped dock, playgrounds and volleyball courts. Kirkland is close to major Eastside tech employers and some of Washington's top-rated schools. Median home price: about $1.55 million.
6. West Seattle: a beach town inside the city
West Seattle is the closest thing to beach-town living in Seattle proper. Alki Beach, in my opinion the best beach in the city, offers an expansive sandy shoreline, a paved walking path and skyline views. Farther south, Lincoln Park has a quieter rocky shoreline, trails, views toward Vashon Island and Colman Pool, Seattle's outdoor heated saltwater pool. The Junction on California Avenue gives you a walkable business district, and West Seattle is more affordable than many premier Seattle neighborhoods. Median home price: about $945,000.
7. Seward Park: Lake Washington access in southeast Seattle
Seward Park feels more suburban than Green Lake or West Seattle, without a large walkable shopping district. Its centerpiece is the roughly 300-acre park on the Bailey Peninsula, with miles of shoreline, a swimming beach, a fishing pier, hand-carry boat launches, old-growth forest and a 2.4-mile paved loop. There are fewer condos and townhomes here than in other Seattle neighborhoods. Median home price: about $1.1 million.
8. Mukilteo: a quieter alternative to Edmonds
Mukilteo sits just north of Edmonds on Puget Sound but is calmer and more low-key, with a few waterfront restaurants rather than a full main street. The highlight is Lighthouse Park, next to the ferry terminal, with a public beach, the historic 1906 lighthouse, fire pits, picnic shelters, a playground and a boat launch. The ferry makes weekend trips to Whidbey Island easy. Median home price: about $1 million.
9. Gig Harbor: a classic Pacific Northwest maritime town
Gig Harbor sits at the edge of Pierce County, the outer edge of the Seattle metro, so it's not ideal for daily Seattle or Eastside commutes. For remote workers, retirees and south-end workers, though, it's quintessential Pacific Northwest: towering evergreens, a boat-filled harbor, a walkable downtown and plenty of kayak and paddleboard launch points. Housing ranges from historic homes near town to acreage and newer subdivisions. Median home price: about $885,000.
10. Lake Forest Park: the hidden gem
Lake Forest Park rarely shows up in relocation research, but people fall in love with it once they visit. It sits just north of Seattle for an easy commute, yet feels removed, with wooded lots, tall evergreens and a tight-knit community. Homes were mostly built from the 1950s to the 1990s, and there is no new construction. Public lake access is limited, but the private Lake Forest Park Civic Club has a big dock, swimming area, playground, boat launch and event venue. I grew up going there with my grandfather being a member, and worked there in high school managing memberships. Only some homes include deeded club access, so confirm it before you buy. Median home price: about $1.1 million.
How to choose the right waterfront area
- Start with your commute. Seattle jobs point toward Lake Forest Park, Green Lake, West Seattle or Seward Park. Eastside jobs point toward Kirkland or Sammamish. Remote workers can consider Lake Stevens or Gig Harbor.
- Choose sound or lake. Puget Sound towns offer beaches and ferries. Lake towns offer boating, swimming and calmer water.
- Decide how walkable you want to be. Edmonds, Kirkland, Green Lake and West Seattle have the most walkable cores.
- Confirm access for each specific home. Private beach clubs and deeded access vary house by house.
Frequently asked questions about waterfront living near Seattle
What is the most affordable waterfront area near Seattle?
Of the areas on this list, Lake Stevens is the most affordable, with a median home price of about $735,000 as of September 2026. Gig Harbor (about $885,000) and West Seattle (about $945,000) are the next most affordable.
What is the best beach town near Seattle?
Edmonds is one of the best all-around Puget Sound towns in Western Washington. It has a walkable downtown on the water, Brackett's Landing and Marina Beach, an off-leash dog beach and a ferry to the Kitsap Peninsula.
Where is the best beach in the city of Seattle?
Alki Beach in West Seattle is widely considered the best beach in Seattle proper, with a long sandy shoreline, a paved waterfront path and views of the downtown skyline.
Which waterfront areas are best for commuting to Seattle or the Eastside?
For Seattle commuters, Lake Forest Park, Green Lake, West Seattle and Seward Park are all close to downtown. For Eastside jobs in Bellevue, Redmond or Kirkland, Kirkland and Sammamish offer the easiest commutes.
Does every home in Lake Forest Park have lake access?
No. Lake Forest Park has limited public access to Lake Washington. Many residents use the Lake Forest Park Civic Club, a private beach club, but only certain homes include deeded membership access, so it is important to confirm that for any specific home before you buy.
About the author
Bryce Greenleaf is a lifelong Seattle-area resident and licensed real estate broker with more than 10 years of experience. He specializes in helping people relocate to Seattle and the greater Seattle metro, and shares neighborhood guides on his YouTube channel, Living In Seattle.
Looking for a home near the water? Schedule a call with Bryce, call or text (425) 598-6607, or email Bryce@livinginseattlemetro.com.
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