Why Kirkland is One of the Best Places to Live on the Eastside
Kirkland sits about 15 minutes east of Seattle, 5 minutes north of Bellevue, and 10 minutes west of Redmond — making it one of the most centrally located cities on the Eastside. About 91,000 people call Kirkland home across 14 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character, price range, and lifestyle. The median household income is roughly $143,533 and the overall median property value sits at $1,020,000 — though that number swings dramatically depending on where you look, from the $620K median of Totem Lake to the $3.2M median of downtown Kirkland's Market neighborhood.
The waterfront is Kirkland's crown jewel. Marina Park, Carillon Point, and the boutique shops and restaurants of downtown Kirkland along the lake give this city a charm that's hard to replicate anywhere else on the Eastside.
Downtown Kirkland & Moss Bay
Downtown Kirkland — technically the Moss Bay neighborhood — is where the city's waterfront identity lives. Kirkland Urban, a nearly 12-acre mixed-use development, opened in 2019 on the former Kirkland Parkplace site and brought Google, Tableau, Shake Shack, Chainline Brewing, and a remarkable QFC (complete with its own wine bar) to the area. The waterfront itself features boutique shops, galleries, and some excellent restaurants — Volterra for upscale Tuscan-inspired Italian, Vovina for cozy lounge vibes (get the spicy jalapeño martini with gin), and Bottle & Bull for a scratch kitchen with impressive cocktails. Carillon Point to the south began as the Lake Washington Shipyard in the 1870s before becoming a WWII defense plant, a Seahawks practice facility in 1976, and finally the stunning waterfront complex it is today, anchored by the Woodmark Hotel & Spa.
Kirkland Wednesday Market runs June through September right at Marina Park. And if you have a boat, the marina launch is right there — though it gets very busy in summer, so give yourself extra time.
All 14 Kirkland Neighborhoods
Moss Bay / Downtown
$1.8M – $3M+
Kirkland's waterfront heart — Marina Park, Kirkland Urban, boutique shops, restaurants, and incredible walkability. Condos from $589K.
Market / West of Market
$2.3M – $11.3M+
The most desirable neighborhood in Kirkland. Median list price ~$4.3M. Best Lake Washington views, only 800 residents. Homes with yacht docks.
Finn Hill
$925K – $2.8M+
Kirkland's largest neighborhood by area, 16,000 residents. St. Edwards Park with lake access and trails. Wide variety of homes and budgets.
Juanita
$1.1M – $3.6M+
Home to Juanita Beach Park, Juanita Bay Park wildlife sanctuary (200+ bird species), and Juanita High School. Condos from $360K.
Totem Lake
$960K – $2.1M+
Transformed by the Village at Totem Lake — Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Nordstrom Rack, Lululemon, and Cinemark. EvergreenHealth Medical Center hub.
Norkirk / East of Market
$1.1M – $5.2M+
Highly desirable, beautifully renovated homes. Minutes from downtown and Juanita Bay Park. Kirkland Middle School.
South Rose Hill
$1M – $4.2M+
Home of Lake Washington High School (the Kangaroos). Strong community feel, $175K median household income.
North Rose Hill
$900K – $3M+
Surge of new construction. Home to LWIT — the only public institute of technology in Washington. Forbes Lake watershed.
Kingsgate
$900K – $2.6M+
Gateway to Woodinville wine country. More affordable, residential, and home to Kamiakin Middle School. Condos from $280K.
Houghton
$1.3M – $4.2M+
Home to Northwest University, International Community School (lottery/grades 6–12), and Watershed Park (75 acres, Kirkland's 1915 water source).
Lakeview
$680K – $1.8M+
Smallest neighborhood with Carillon Point and EA's offices. Waterfront condos with stunning views at surprisingly accessible prices.
Highlands
$1.4M – $2.4M+
Primarily residential, west of 405. Many older homes beautifully renovated into modern luxury. Dense tree cover buffers road noise.
Everest
$2.15M – $3.3M+
Google's campus is here — with the Cross Kirkland Corridor Trail running through it. Pickleball, basketball, beach volleyball, seasonal Chainline Brewing.
Bridle Trails
$1.75M – $3.7M+
482-acre Bridle Trails State Park — one of the top equestrian parks west of the Mississippi. 28 miles of trails. Estate lots, maximum privacy.
Market Overview
$1.1M+
Overall Median Home Value
$3.2M
Downtown Kirkland Median
Strong
Year-Over-Year Appreciation
Kirkland consistently delivers among the strongest appreciation numbers on the Eastside, with values varying significantly by neighborhood from under $1M in Totem Lake to over $3M in the Market neighborhood.
