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The city of Bellevue, Washington has frequently appeared on lists that rank the best places to live in the United States. It’s recognized as a great place to raise a family, and for good reason.
Bellevue offers highly-rated schools, beautiful parks, safe communities, and a plethora of family-friendly activities in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
But what about specific neighborhoods in the city? What are the best places to live in Bellevue, WA?
In this guide: We’ll explore some of the best neighborhoods in Bellevue for families, including Bridle Trails, Lake Hills, Somerset, Wilburton, and more. If you’re thinking of moving to Bellevue with the family, the following list provides some great options.
Bellevue is a mid-sized city of around 151,000 residents located in King County, Washington, just east of Seattle across Lake Washington. The 34-square-mile city is surrounded by lakes, mountains, and parks, making it a highly desirable place to live.
Bellevue offers views of both the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, with easy access to a wide variety of outdoor recreation spots.
The city features a thriving downtown area with high-rise office buildings, shopping centers, and cultural institutions. Surrounding that, you’ll find a variety of suburban neighborhoods with top-rated schools and abundant green space.
Choosing a neighborhood is highly subjective. Even so, we can agree that a “family-friendly” neighborhood should have certain qualities.
These factors include safety, quality schools, parks and recreational areas, and access to important amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, and libraries.
Located in West Bellevue, Meydenbauer and the surrounding area is known for its excellent schools in the Bellevue School District. This established and affluent neighborhood offers a classic suburban feel with mature landscaping and larger lots.
One of the more safe neighborhoods in Bellevue for families is Meydenbauer, with its peaceful environment, proximity to Meydenbauer Bay Park and other waterfront areas, and strong sense of community with many long-term residents.
As with most of the city, Bellevue, WA real estate can be very expensive in the Meydenbauer neighborhood. The median home price typically hovers around $1 million, despite fluctuations from one year to the next.
In exchange for that, families can enjoy unbeatable schools and beautiful surroundings.
Located in Southeast Bellevue, these neighborhoods are highly regarded for their excellent schools, particularly Newport High School. They offer beautiful hillside views, some of which overlook Lake Washington or the Cascade Mountains.
Bellevue’s Somerset neighborhood, in particular, has an active community association that hosts numerous family-friendly events throughout the year. Families will appreciate parks like Coal Creek Park and Somerset Community Park.
Housing-wise, these neighborhoods are still on the pricey side. But they offer a bit more diversity with some townhouses and smaller lots, compared to West Bellevue.
Bridle Trails is a family-friendly neighborhood in Northwest Bellevue known for its equestrian heritage and direct access to Bridle Trails State Park. This location makes it ideal for families who enjoy outdoor activities and nature.
The Bridle Trails neighborhood offers a broader range of housing options and is generally more affordable compared to West Bellevue. But it still offers all of the family-friendly benefits and amenities one would expect in this city. If you’re thinking of buying a home in Bellevue but are trying to keep costs down, this may be a neighborhood to consider.
The Lake Hills neighborhood of Northwest Bellevue offers a distinctly suburban feel with convenient access to parks, community centers, and shopping areas. Families in Lake Hills can enjoy the Lake Hills Greenbelt and other local parks.
Like the Bridle Trails neighborhood mentioned above, housing in Lake Hills is generally more affordable and more varied than in West Bellevue. Townhouses and ramblers are common in Lake Hills, along with traditional single-family homes.
Another Northwest Bellevue neighborhood, Crossroads is known for the 34-acre Crossroads Park and the Crossroads Community Center. These family-friendly resources offer numerous programs and activities ranging from the arts to athletics.
Residents of this neighborhood also enjoy convenient access to the Crossroads shopping center, with its many shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
Situated in Northeast Bellevue, the Wilburton neighborhood is undergoing significant development particularly around the Spring District. Newer housing options including apartments and townhouses are emerging, and the area is becoming increasingly family-friendly with new parks and amenities.
Downtown Bellevue offers a family-friendly option for those who favor urban living over traditional suburbia. High-rise condominiums in the downtown area provide a low-maintenance lifestyle that might appeal to busy families.
Without the need to manage a yard or exterior upkeep, parents can focus more on work and quality time with their children. Additionally, many modern high-rise communities in Bellevue offer amenities such as fitness centers, community lounges, and secure play areas.
The downtown area gives families walkable access to world-class amenities, including Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue Square, libraries, and numerous restaurants and cultural events.
In terms of home prices, Bellevue is among the more expensive. To help you get an idea of what you’ll spend in Bellevue compared to other nearby cities close to Seattle, here are a few examples:
These figures are gathered from Zillow and are current as of March 2025. As you can see, home prices in each city are all above the $1 million mark, though Bellevue takes top spot.
As you can see, the city of Bellevue, Washington offers a variety of family-friendly neighborhood options, ranging from the urban to the suburban.
In conclusion, these are some of the best neighborhoods in Bellevue for families. They offer great schools, entertainment, a variety of housing options, and lovely surroundings. If you’re considering living in Bellevue, Washington, be sure to partner with a seasoned real estate agent and mortgage company.
If you’re looking to buy in Bellevue, WA, we can help. At Sammamish Mortgage, we offer various mortgage options for you to choose from. Visit our website to get an instant rate quote or call us today to have your mortgage questions answered!
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.