Welcome to Downtown Snohomish
Snohomish is one of my favorite places, a charming, historic riverfront town where it truly feels like you've stepped back in time, in the best way possible. Located about 30 miles northeast of Seattle and 25 miles from Bellevue, it offers a completely different pace of life compared to the Eastside, more space, more character, and a strong sense of community.
I'm Bella Chaffey Lakic, and I've been a realtor in the Greater Seattle area for the past 7 years. While I help people relocate all over the Eastside, I also work extensively in Snohomish County, and this is actually where I live. I moved here from Kirkland to get more space. We have about 3 acres and farm animals now, but we're still so close to the Eastside it's almost surprising.
"Snohomish is best known for its historic downtown, scenic farmland, and those larger properties that are getting harder and harder to find closer to the city. But what really makes this place special is the lifestyle."
Downtown Snohomish, The Antique Capital of the Northwest
Downtown Snohomish is truly one of a kind. It's known as the antique capital of the Northwest, with rows of vintage shops, local boutiques, and small businesses that give this area so much personality. The historic downtown has strict zoning regulations that prioritize local businesses and historic character, you won't find big chains here, which is incredibly refreshing.
One of my absolute favorites is The Petal and the Stem, the best plant shop with amazing bouquets, my go-to for gifts. When it comes to Christmas or birthday shopping, we walk through downtown Snohomish and I can somehow find something for every single person, which really shows the variety here.
Bella's Favorite Spots
Food & Drink: J&L BBQ (a hole in the wall but nothing short of incredible), Uptown Wine Bar & Kitchen, Oxford Saloon (a 1st Street staple, including the speakeasy upstairs), The Pie Dive Bar, The Cabbage Patch (feels like dining in grandma's kitchen, and the food is fabulous), Andy's Fish House (especially sitting outside in summer), Trails End Brewery, and Sound to Summit Brewery.
Coffee & Bakeries: After long bike rides on the Centennial Trail in summer, the Snohomish Bakery is our spot, coffee, breakfast, and pastries on the patio on a summer morning is hard to beat.
The Centennial Trail
The trail has an entrance just past downtown and runs 30 miles one way, all the way north to just past Arlington. You can absolutely get a serious workout done here, we spend a lot of time on it in summer.
Farmers Market & Local Events
The farmers market runs every Thursday from 3–7pm, May through October, one of the larger markets in the county. Throughout the year you'll find Kla Ha Ya Days (carnival, parade, vendors across several days in mid-July, we took our daughter last summer and she had so much fun), multiple wine walks, Winterfest, trick-or-treating on 1st Street, the Snohomish Block Party, and more. These events bring the community together in a way that feels very authentic and local.
Understanding the Snohomish Area
One important thing to understand: Snohomish is a city within Snohomish County, which can get confusing. The actual city of Snohomish is only about three and a half square miles, but what most people think of as Snohomish is much bigger, and includes surrounding areas that have a Snohomish address even though they're technically unincorporated county land. That's actually how it is where I live.
Beyond the city limits, there's also plenty of farmland, including some favorites like Stocker Farms, Thomas Family Farm, and Bob's Corn. Snohomish Valley Golf Center is also a lot of fun. And if you're interested in farm-to-table living, we get a cow every year from Springherd Family Farm, a local family-operated business.
Neighborhoods & Communities
Where you live within the Snohomish area will look very different depending on the neighborhood, here's a breakdown of the main areas.
"Clearview is amazing for people who want a balance of space and convenience to Eastside areas. We moved here from Kirkland and I honestly can't believe how close we still are to everything, while having 3 acres, farm animals, and a completely different quality of life."
Market Overview
Snohomish offers significantly more space per dollar compared to the Eastside. You can find larger lots, acreage, and custom homes at price points that simply aren't available in Bellevue or Kirkland. I had a listing in Clearview recently that sold for $2.3M, an absolutely stunning property, and representative of the upper end of what's available here.
Snohomish County as a whole is quite large and there is a lot here. If you're willing to go out deeper, depending on your commute tolerance, there are some incredible properties, larger lots, farms, and considerably more affordability.
Why People Choose Snohomish
- Genuine small-town character, one of the few places left in the region with it
- Space, larger lots, acreage, privacy that's vanishing closer to the city
- Slower, quieter lifestyle with a real sense of community
- Historic downtown with unique local businesses, no chains
- More home and land per dollar than the Eastside
- Centennial Trail, 30 miles of walking, running, and biking
- Year-round events, farmers market, festivals
- Commute to Seattle or Bellevue: 35–40 min from Clearview, 60+ min from further out, during rush hour
- Less walkability, dining, and nightlife than Bellevue, though downtown has charm
- Some properties have well and septic systems (not a dealbreaker, just something to know)
- In unincorporated areas, your neighbors may have roosters, goats, or working dogs, Bella has all three and then some