At the mouth of the Stillaguamish River, near Port Susan and Skagit Bay, Stanwood is a quiet community with a historic downtown and new subdivisions. The city is connected by Highway 532 to nearby Camano Island, a major destination for outdoor recreation. “It’s a different animal than Camano in that it’s more family-friendly,” says Dianna Pence of Windermere Real Estate, who has nearly two decades of experience in the area. “Stanwood has more jobs, it’s more affordable and has better schools, but then people may decide to retire to Camano when the kids are out of the house.” The town of 8,800 residents sits 50 miles north of Seattle and offers a quiet alternative to city life.
The City of Stanwood features homes with a medium price of $706,000.
The Hamilton Landing Park in Stanwood, WA features a boat launch area for recreation.
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Large new builds
The median price for a single-family home in Stanwood is $706,000. Housing styles vary greatly; bungalows and cottages from the late 19th and early 20th centuries dominate the downtown area. Much of the housing has moved north and east of the downtown district into master-planned subdivisions. These homes sit on quiet, secluded roads with large front and backyards. Most were built in the 21st century and have multicar garages.
Newly built homes in the northeast parts of Stanwood are sprouting up and are affordable.
Older bungalows and cottages make up a lot of the immediate housing in the Stanwood area.
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Pizza and breweries in downtown Stanwood
Despite being a small town, Stanwood has an active downtown district. “People may go to Camano Island for recreation, but the Camano people come to Stanwood for shopping and dining,” says Pence. Stanwood’s main streets are located near the water, lined with barbecue spots and cafes; restaurants serve everything from pizza and pasta to sushi. Locals have breweries, coffee shops and dessert bars all within a few blocks of one another. Art galleries, antique shops and boutique clothing stores are available. The town also has major grocery chains and big box hardware stores.
Stanwood features many boutique and antique stores including the Curated Vintage Mall.
Mammoth Burger Co in Downtown Stanwood features many mouth watering burger choices.
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Beaches at Camano Island State Park
Stanwood is home to eight city parks, the largest being Heritage Park, which has skate and dog parks. Proximity to the water makes Hamilton Landing Park a popular spot with a boat launch and fishing access. “It’s really easy to just cross the bridge, and within minutes you’re on Camano Island, which has two great state parks,” says Pence. Camano Island State Park has miles of trails, campgrounds and beaches. Cama Beach State Park has a boat launch and areas for swimming and kayaking. Both parks allow leashed pets and firepits in designated areas.
Camano Island State Park offers residents and visitors many scenic nature views.
Heritage Park in Stanwood features a skate park, dog park, and many other amenities.
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Best Lil' Fair in the West
Each August, locals attend the Stanwood-Camano Community Fair, self-dubbed “The Best Lil’ Fair in the West." The event has live music and a large carnival. Other events include Movies in the Park, Summer Concert Series and a Ghoul’s Night Out trick-or-treating parade through downtown.
Stanwood High School's new building
Kids in the area attend the Stanwood-Camano School District, which has a B-minus overall grade from Niche. The district has 4,900 students and a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Teens attend Stanwood High, which holds a B overall rating. In 2021, the high school opened a new 260,000-square-foot building costing $147.5 million; it has a state-of-the-art performance theater, a wood and metal shop, a multi-level gymnasium and a large common area. Community colleges are in Mount Vernon and Everett.
Watch the Spartans play at Stanwood High School football stadium.
Cedarhome Elementary in Stanwood, WA serves the younger students in the area.
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Amtrak to Seattle and Vancouver
Residents hop on Interstate 5 and drive 53 miles south to Seattle, or 66 miles to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Pioneer Highway and Interstate 5 take locals 13 miles north to Mount Vernon. Stanwood is served by Community Transit buses that have stops throughout town. Amtrak offers daily service to Seattle and Vancouver. According to the FBI, the violent and property crime rates have stayed consistent in Stanwood over the past five years.
Mild summers
Summers in Stanwood are mild, with temperatures topping out in the high 70s. Winter lows hit the 30s. The town averages between 30 and 40 inches of rain per year, which is low by Washington state’s standards.
Cavalero Beach Park on Camano Island offers stunning scenic views of the surrounding areas.
The City of Stanwood in Washington offers up small town life with modern conveniences.
I born and raised in Lynden, WA. Graduated from Lynden High School. I have been in the Real Estate business for 31 years and still love it!! I am proud to be a lifetime Whatcom County resident. Also, I spent 15 years in the agricultural business as owner-operator of a dairy farm. I also do land development consulting. Whatcom County Approved Farm Timber Plans, home repair consulting, as well as commercial projects, all types of land clean up and development, I am always available to help you in any way I can. If you have any questions, please call or e-mail me at my cell 360-220-5101 or Jimskerjanc@gmail.com
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