A tech-savvy Eastside city with a lot of attributes
Redmond has developed rapidly over recent decades. The tech-savvy city is home to the headquarters of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. The Redmond lifestyle is not all about the workday: there are plenty of shopping areas, dining options, green spaces and other outdoor amenities. The school system is highly ranked, and there are many transportation options and a strong cycling culture.
Redmond is north of Bellevue, a comparable tech hub known for Amazon, though it has a somewhat higher cost of living. Kirkland, which trends lower, is to the west, while Sammamish, to the southeast, is more expensive than both Redmond and Bellevue. These cities are among those considered to be part of Eastside, a collection of Seattle suburbs defined by locations east of Lake Washington. Lake Sammamish is in proximity as well.
Downtown Redmond residents are in close proximity to Redmond Town Center for upscale shops.
For a great night out with friends and family, head to Woodblock in Downtown Redmond.
There are several golf courses in and around Willows-Rose Hill, including Redmond Ridge.
Marymoor Park in Downtown Redmond has plenty of out door Athletic fields for playing sports.
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Companies include Microsoft, Nintendo, SpaceX, Meta and more
Many tech professionals have moved to Redmond to work for big companies. The most notable is Microsoft, headquartered in Overlake, part of south Redmond. Overlake, the third-largest job center in Puget Sound, is also the site of Nintendo of America's headquarters. "There's a large population that lives on the Eastside that works at Microsoft," says Chris Tolstoy, a real estate broker for Keller Williams Eastside. Chris and his wife Apryl work together as the team Real Estate by Tolstoy. "Microsoft is an ever-evolving Fortune 500 company that also has enough amenities that it's almost its own city." More than 47,000 work for Microsoft in Redmond. A multimillion-dollar refresh of the campus adds more features and amenities. Non-employees can only access some campus perks, like trails and green spaces. Microsoft has its own transportation network, including on-campus shuttles and commuter buses serving Eastside, Seattle and Snohomish County locations.
Other major players in Redmond include SpaceX, Meta and Amazon. "Redmond is planning for more growth: 20,000 to 24,000 more jobs over 20 to 25 years," says Jeff Churchill, long-range planning manager for the City of Redmond.
Microsoft campus in Overlake is surrounded by bike lanes, public transportation and more.
Meta employees will find comfort working in this stunning office in Redmond.
SpaceX has a warehouse located within the Union Hill-Novelty Hill neighborhood.
Nintendo America in Viewpoint has sports fields for there employees.
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Redmond homes include condos, single-family and townhouses
The city is home to about 82,000 people, and most residences are in neighborhoods such as Education Hill, Grass Lawn and North Redmond. Other areas focused on commercial and industrial use — with some residential mixed in — include Bear Creek, Sammamish Valley, Southeast Redmond and Willows-Rose Hill.
The median home price in Redmond — $1.3 million in November of 2024 — is lower than neighboring Bellevue's, which is $1.5 million, but higher than Seattle's, at $845,000. Many condos are downtown, some in mixed-use buildings with first-floor retail. Redmond's condos range from the $200,000s for a studio of less than 400 square feet to over $1 million for a three-bedroom with more than 2,500 square feet. Most single-family homes date to the 1960s or later, including ranch-style homes, split-levels and contemporaries in planned residential developments. Single-family homes are in the $700,000s for older builds of less than 1,000 square feet to 1,300 square feet. For $3 to $4 million, there are 2020s homes of 3,400 to 4,800 square feet. Townhouses are also priced based on size and age, with the majority built after 1990. Those added in the 2020s are at the top of the range, maxing out at about $1.4 million.
FBI data shows that the city's violent crime rate at the end of 2023 was 46 per 100,000, compared to a state rate of 87 and a national rate of 119. The rate is also about 9% lower than neighboring Bellevue. The two cities have similar property crime rates. However, Redmond's rate is about 21% higher than statewide and 50% higher than in the U.S. overall.
Modern condominium living at its best in the heart of Downtown Redmond.
Urban chic meets suburban charm in these Downtown Redmond modern townhomes.
North Redmond single-family traditional homes are often surrounded by lush greenery.
Find your perfect ranch-style home in the charming neighborhood of Viewpoint.
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Downtown, Redmond Town Center, the Redmond Saturday Market
Churchill says Redmond's downtown has been growing in terms of entertainment venues and new restaurants. Many people walk or take the bus to enjoy an evening downtown instead of driving elsewhere. Redmond Town Center has two levels, with an outdoor plaza and about 100 stores. There are national brands as well as family-owned and Washington-based stores. Redmond Town Center also hosts many community events, like Music on the Court, which showcases local musicians on Friday and Saturday evenings from June through September. Themed car shows take place on Saturdays in spring through fall. Redmond has movie theaters, and many cafes and bars host open mics, trivia nights and other happenings.
Grocery stores in Redmond include H Mart, Fred Meyer, Trader Joe's and Safeway. Redmond Saturday Market, established in 1976, is open from May through October.
The Redmond Arts Fair near North Redmond is a big, annual event at Redmond Town Center.
Downtown Redmond hosts Exotics at Redmond, a weekly car show.
The Redmond Saturday Market is a convenient farmers market for locals to enjoy.
Fred Meyer on North 76th Street in Southeast Redmond is in a centralized location.
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More than 40 parks and numerous trails in Redmond
Redmond's park system is over 1,300 acres, including more than 40 parks. The city owns and operates dozens of miles of public trails, some of which link to local connector and regional trails. The Sammamish River flows northwest from Lake Sammamish. "The lake has fishing and all kinds of water sports. It's smaller and warmer than Lake Washington," says Marc Erickson, founder/broker with Allied Property Experts.
The 10-mile Sammamish River Trail is popular for walkers and cyclists. The trail connects to various parks, including Marymoor Park, which, in 640 acres, includes athletic fields, a community garden, a bicycle racing track, a climbing wall and a large off-leash dog park. Marymoor Live is a top summer concert series for King County; the outdoor venue space accommodates 5,000 people. In July and August, the Movies at Marymoor series draws film fans who stake a spot on the lawn with blankets and camping chairs. With shoreline on Lake Sammamish, Marymoor is a launching location for members of the Sammamish Rowing Association.
Other highlights of the park system include Farrel-McWhirter Park, which has a barnyard; Idylwood Beach Park, which has a swimming beach; and Westside Park, a renovated park that features a zipline and accessible playground equipment. The city plans to renovate existing parks and develop new ones.
Sammamish River Trail in Downtown Redmond is great for bike enthusiasts.
Smith Woods is a secluded park in North Redmond offering trails to enjoy nature walks.
Southeast Redmond residents gather for the weekly Outdoor Movies at Marymoor Park.
Sammamish River flows through Downtown Redmond to provide a blend of city life and nature.
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Annual events like Derby Days and Redmond Lights
In addition to park activities and events, Redmond has several annual celebrations. Churchill says Derby Days is one of the signature events. Held downtown in July, the two-day festival has parades, carnival rides and entertainment, including a drone show. Another bring draw is Redmond Lights, a month-long wintertime celebration downtown, featuring light displays and art. Redmond Cinco De Mayo is another festival that Churchill says people come to from around the region. Put on by Centro Cultural Mexicano, the free gathering includes music, culture, entertainment and food.
The Redmond Derby Days bring the Downtown Redmond community a summer weekend of fun.
Downtown Park in Redmond lights up during the holidays for Redmond Lights all of December.
Downtown Redmond hosts the annual Hopelink Neighborhood Fair.
Ananda Mela is an annual celebration of Indian culture that takes in Downtown Redmond.
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A-plus Redmond School District includes choice schools
Many families move to Redmond because of the quality of the schools. Most public schools are in the Lake Washington School District, which earns an A-plus grade from Niche and serves about 31,000 students in more than 50 schools. About 79% of the district teachers have a master's degree or higher, and nearly 95% of students graduate in four years, according to the Washington office of the superintendent of public instruction.
Participation in the district's choice school lottery is by application. The programs are open to all in the district, though parents/guardians usually must arrange transportation. Einstein Elementary is one of at least a dozen choice schools. It offers dual language instruction in English and Spanish. The International Community School focuses on global awareness, foreign language and the humanities for sixth through 12th grade. Tesla STEM High School incorporates engineering and technology at all levels, and the Cambridge Program high school collaborates with the University of Cambridge in England.
Neighboring districts include Bellevue School District, Issaquah School District and Bothell's Northshore School District, each with an A-plus grade. Duvall's Riverview School District has a B-plus. Nearby institutions of higher education include Bellevue College, Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Northwest University.
Einstein Elementary School inspires children to learn and sparks creativity.
Rose Hill Middle School near Overlake is a highly rated school in the area.
Redmond Middle welcomes North Redmond students before graduating to Redmond High.
Redmond High School prepares students for graduation and beyond.
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The Bicycle Capital of the Northwest also has light rail and buses
Hailed as the "Bicycle Capital of the Northwest," Redmond has bike lanes along many streets. Downtown Redmond is walkable, and there are public parking lots. The Redmond Transit Center has more than 370 parking spaces. Seattle-bound King County Metro bus routes include one to the University District and another that ends in the SoDo neighborhood, not far from Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park. Fans of the Seahawks, Sounders and Mariners will be familiar with this destination.
Sound Transit's Redmond Technology Center light rail station opened in 2024. The station's pedestrian and bicycle bridge over state Route 520 connects to Microsoft. Sound Transit has added eight rail stations from South Bellevue to Redmond as part of its East Link Extension. An additional light rail extension connecting Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond is slated for 2025. Paying for public transit is simple with the ORCA card or app.
The drive from Redmond to Seattle is about 15 miles, with a section on SR-520 over "the 520 floating bridge," a toll bridge across Lake Washington. Fees are required each way, but these can be discounted with the Good To Go! Pass from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The trip to Sea-Tac, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, is about 23 miles southwest via Interstate 405.
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