Built in the 1970s as a golf course community, Mill Creek has since become a city known for its suburban feel, walkable downtown and lush tree canopy. “It has a really good blend of beauty and modern convenience,” says Carrie Freeman, a broker with John L. Scott Real Estate who’s sold homes here for 22 years. “It’s known for its parks and walking trails. It has a small-town feel, yet it’s close to the bigger cities.” Most of its 21,000 residents commute 24 miles to Seattle or 10 miles to Everett, home of Boeing’s manufacturing plant; Interstate 5 is about a mile away, and there's also public transit. The Mill Creek Town Center is the city’s urban core, with regular events and local businesses.
Locals enjoy the arts on walks around Mill Creek.
Mill Creek has all your shopping and restaurant needs covered at Mill Creek Town Center.
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Forested cul-de-sacs lined with late 20th-century homes
The median home price in Mill Creek is around $980,000, higher than the national median of $406,000. “It's very coveted to live in Mill Creek and the housing market is very competitive,” Freeman says. “The average time on the market is technically around 30 days, but if the house is priced right and in a good location — which they all are —it’s between five and seven days.”
The area’s late 20th-century split-level, Northwest Contemporary and Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes are set along forested streets and cul-de-sacs. Townhouses are available throughout. Low-rise condos are near the Mill Creek Town Center and single-level condos are near the golf course at the private Mill Creek Country Club. “If you’re in the area surrounding the golf course, it tends to be darker because there are tons of trees,” Freeman says, “so if you want something light and bright, it’s not that you can’t find it — it’s just a little harder. We also tend to have more gray days because it’s the Pacific Northwest.”
This mid-century split-level home blends in with the natural beauty of Mill Creek.
Cul-de-sacs are often filled with Rambler homes in Silver Firs.
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Events and shopping at the Mill Creek Town Center
Mill Creek Town Center, a walkable stretch of Main Street lined with local and national restaurants and stores, is the city’s main commercial district. “It’s completely walkable and it’s got all kinds of shopping and dining options that really fit everyone,” says Zach Hensrude, who’s sold homes in the area for 10 years with Re/Max Elite. “Whenever I go there to enjoy something to eat, I can go shopping for my kids or stop at the grocery store.” The area also hosts some of the city’s most popular events, like the Mill Creek Festival each July and a summer concert series. Grocery stores are also in Mill Creek Town Center, and there are more grocery and retail options in the city’s north.
Sit in the shade after shopping at Mill Creek Town Center in Mill Creek.
A favorite destination for Martha Lake residents is Azul Restaurant and Lounge.
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Dog walks on the North Creek Trail
Summers here are typically warm and dry, but residents can expect rain and cloudy days during the rest of the year, particularly in winter. “You have to embrace the drizzle if you want to live here,” Freeman says. But the rain doesn’t slow locals down. There are several parks with playgrounds and sports fields throughout the community, and walking trails connect neighborhoods and amenities. “You see people all the time walking with their dogs and their families,” Freeman says. The private Mill Creek Country Club, around which the city was founded, sits in the community’s center, offering its members social activities and an 18-hole golf course. The city is developing a new park in the northwest, with construction expected to begin in 2025.
Mill Creek residents head to the driving ranges at Mill Creek Country Club.
Dogs love Martha Lake Airport Park Off-Leash Dog Park in Martha Lake.
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Highly rated Everett Public Schools
Local kids can attend Everett Public Schools, which earn an overall A-minus from Niche. The A-rated Mill Creek Elementary was recognized for its high academic performance by the Washington School Recognition Program in 2022 and 2023. The A-rated Heatherwood Middle offers a substantial music program, featuring orchestra, jazz band and choir. At the A-minus-rated Henry M. Jackson High, students can join state championship-winning sports teams and participate in over 50 clubs.
Mill Creek Elementary School has served the Mill Creek, WA community since 1988.
Valley View Middle School provides superb education to Mill Creek students.
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Near Interstates 5 and 405
State Route 527, also called the Bothell-Everett Highway, is the city’s main thoroughfare. Interstate 5 is about a mile away, leading roughly 24 miles to downtown Seattle and 10 miles to Everett. “It’s not only a short drive to Interstate 5, but it’s also right at the interchange where the I-5 meets Interstate 405,” Hensrude says, “so those commuting to the east side area have easy access.” There are three nearby park-and-ride locations, and Swift Bus Rapid Transit has two routes through Mill Creek; the Orange Line connects to the Lynwood Transit Center, where travelers can take the Link light rail around the Seattle metro area. Bike and pedestrian paths are common. There are several urgent care facilities in the city, and Swedish Mill Creek Campus, the closest emergency room, is 3 miles away. Paine Field, which offers domestic flights, is about 6 miles away, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, commonly called Sea-Tac, is a 35-mile trip.
Dog Walker Watch with the Mill Creek Police Department
According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Mill Creek's rates of violent crime increased between 2022 and 2023, while property crimes decreased. FBI statistics show that local rates of both remain well below state figures. Residents can join the Dog Walker Watch, a police-led program that instructs dog owners how to identify suspicious activity on their dog walks.
Sheila has lived in the Pacific Northwest most of her life and knows the different neighborhoods, their strengths and unique characteristics. She has great listening skills finding out what is important to her client. Then building a plan to accomplish that with the best results in the shortest amount of time. Loves educating people, so they are comfortable with the buying and selling process. Always striving to make relationships that will last beyond just the one transaction. Most of her clients have been referred to her from other satisfied clients. Having been an investor and held several properties as rentals as well as remodeling to resell, she is great at looking at a property to identify ways to improve and prepare for sale or to just increase the equity and pleasure of living in the home. She continues to educate herself holding several designations to help better serve her clients.
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