I have watched more than one relocating family fall in love with Edmonds within a single afternoon, and I understand exactly why.

There is something about walking down Main Street toward the water, passing locally owned shops, art galleries and restaurants, with the smell of coffee drifting out of a nearby café, that immediately tells you Edmonds is not simply another Seattle suburb.

It has its own personality, its own rhythm and a genuine sense of community.

I have lived in Edmonds for many years, and it remains one of my favorite communities to introduce to buyers relocating to the Greater Seattle area. Many arrive expecting a typical commuter suburb and leave surprised by how much they find here.

If you are thinking about moving to Edmonds, Washington, I want to walk you through what makes this community special, what the different areas feel like and a few things you genuinely should know before deciding whether Edmonds is the right fit for you.

And stay with me, because there are a few things about living in Edmonds that may surprise you.

The Bowl: A Walkable Waterfront Community That Feels Completely Different

When people picture Edmonds, they are often picturing the area locals call The Bowl.

This is the historic downtown area closest to the waterfront, and it is one of the things that makes Edmonds so unusual in the Greater Seattle area.

You can walk along Main Street, stop for coffee or lunch, browse independent boutiques and galleries, visit the waterfront and watch the ferry come and go, all without needing to drive from place to place.

For buyers relocating from communities where they are accustomed to having a real downtown, Edmonds can feel immediately comfortable.

It feels less like a traditional suburb and more like a small waterfront town that happens to be part of the Seattle metropolitan area.

Then there is the view.

From the Edmonds waterfront, you can look across Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains. On a clear evening, watching the sunset over the water is one of those experiences that reminds you exactly why people love living in the Pacific Northwest.

The Edmonds Ferry Is Part of the Lifestyle

The Edmonds to Kingston ferry is one of the community’s defining features.

For some residents, it is transportation.

For others, it is the beginning of a weekend adventure.

The ferry gives you convenient access to Kingston and the Kitsap Peninsula, which can also become a gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.

Hiking, exploring small towns, visiting Hood Canal or simply taking a scenic day trip becomes much easier when the ferry terminal is right in your community.

There is also something distinctly Pacific Northwest about being able to walk downtown, grab a cup of coffee and then board a ferry across Puget Sound.

For people commuting toward Seattle, Edmonds also has a Sounder commuter rail station with weekday service to King Street Station. Anyone considering relying on the Sounder should always check the current schedule and make sure it works for their specific work hours.

Edmonds also provides access to Interstate 5 from the eastern side of the city, giving residents several transportation options depending on where they live and where they work.

Edmonds Has an Arts Community With Real History

Something many people relocating here may not realize is that Edmonds became Washington State’s first certified Creative District.

That designation fits the city well.

Downtown Edmonds has art galleries, performing arts, public art, historic buildings, cultural organizations, restaurants, independent businesses and community gathering spaces that all contribute to the personality of the city.

You will find the Cascadia Art Museum, Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds Theater, galleries, concerts, festivals and community events throughout the year.

The arts have been part of Edmonds for decades, and I think that creative influence is something you can actually feel when you spend time downtown.

The Neighborhoods of Edmonds Feel Very Different From One Another

This is where local knowledge becomes especially important.

Searching online for a home with an Edmonds address does not necessarily tell you what living there is going to feel like.

Edmonds includes a variety of distinct neighborhoods and areas, including The Bowl, College Place, Firdale, Five Corners, Maplewood, Meadowdale, Perrinville, Picnic Point, Seaview, Sherwood Forest, Talbot Park, Westgate and the Yost Park area, along with other smaller pockets throughout the community.

The Bowl is the area most people picture when they think of Edmonds. It offers the classic walkable downtown experience, with convenient access to restaurants, shops, the ferry and waterfront.

Some homes in The Bowl and on the hills surrounding downtown may have beautiful Puget Sound or Olympic Mountain views. Those views are one of the reasons certain locations command such a premium.

It is equally important to know that many Edmonds neighborhoods have no water or mountain views at all.

Areas such as Five Corners, Maplewood, Perrinville, Firdale and portions of Westgate, Meadowdale and other residential neighborhoods can feel much more like established Pacific Northwest residential communities, with trees, parks, neighborhood streets, schools and convenient access to everyday amenities.

For many buyers, that can actually be a very positive tradeoff.

You may care more about having a larger yard, additional privacy, a quieter residential feel, convenient freeway access or getting more home for your budget than having a Puget Sound view.

Seaview and some other elevated areas may offer views from certain properties depending on elevation, orientation and surrounding development, while homes just a few streets away may have no view whatsoever.

Even within the same neighborhood, the experience can change considerably from one block to another.

There are also properties marketed with Edmonds mailing addresses that may sit outside the actual City of Edmonds boundaries. That is an important distinction relocating buyers may never think to ask about.

This is why I encourage buyers to choose the lifestyle first and the house second.

Do you want to walk downtown for coffee? Is a view important to you? Would you rather have a larger yard? Do you want easier freeway access? Are parks, schools or waterfront access most important?

Those answers can completely change which part of Edmonds will feel right for you.

A beautiful house in the wrong location for your daily routine is rarely the best long term choice.

There Is Much More Here Than the Waterfront

Edmonds offers an impressive amount for a relatively small city.

There are two major public high schools serving Edmonds neighborhoods, Edmonds Woodway High School and Meadowdale High School. The specific school assigned to a property depends on its address, so buyers should always verify current school boundaries directly with the Edmonds School District.

The city also has a historic movie theater and several performing arts organizations and venues.

Edmonds Center for the Arts brings concerts, theater, comedy and special events to the community throughout the year.

The Frances Anderson Center, located near the Edmonds Library, is another community gathering place offering recreation, classes and activities. The large field and surrounding park area also host numerous events and community activities throughout the year.

And then there is the waterfront.

Edmonds has an underwater park and marine conservation area that attracts scuba divers from around the region.

There is a marina and boating area, beaches, waterfront walking paths and an off leash dog area at Marina Beach where dogs can actually splash and swim in Puget Sound.

Edmonds also has wooded parks and trails that can make you feel surprisingly far away from the city.

For medical care, Providence Swedish Edmonds Campus is located right in Edmonds and provides emergency, medical and surgical services.

Add in restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, farmers markets, recreation programs, community events and festivals, and Edmonds offers quite a lot to enjoy throughout the year.

A Few Things That May Surprise You About Living in Edmonds

Edmonds is wonderful.

It is also not the ideal fit for every lifestyle.

These are some of the things I want relocating buyers to understand before they fall in love with the waterfront.

Edmonds Is Not Known for a Big Nightlife Scene

Edmonds has wonderful restaurants, wine bars, pubs and places to meet friends.

It is not a late night entertainment destination.

If your ideal lifestyle includes clubs, large entertainment districts and lots of activity late into the evening, Seattle or parts of the Eastside may be a better match.

If your idea of a great evening is dinner downtown followed by a walk along the waterfront at sunset, Edmonds may feel pretty close to perfect.

The Most Desirable Locations Often Come With a Premium

Homes in The Bowl, properties near the waterfront and homes with Puget Sound views can command a significant premium.

You are paying for more than the house.

You are also paying for location, walkability, views and proximity to downtown.

Sometimes moving only a few minutes farther away can make a meaningful difference in what your budget buys.

That is one of the reasons I like showing relocating buyers several parts of Edmonds before they decide where to focus their search.

Some Streets May Feel Different From Newer Suburban Neighborhoods

Parts of older Edmonds developed long before today’s modern suburban communities.

You may encounter narrower streets, limited sidewalks, steeper hills and different parking situations depending on the neighborhood.

Those features do not automatically make a home undesirable.

They are simply things you should experience in person before deciding whether the neighborhood works for your lifestyle.

Your Commute Deserves a Real Test Drive

This may be one of my most important pieces of relocation advice.

Never judge an Edmonds commute solely by the number of miles shown on a map.

Traffic patterns, ferry traffic, freeway access, the specific location of your home within Edmonds and the time of day can all make a meaningful difference.

If you are seriously considering a neighborhood, drive from that neighborhood to your workplace during the actual time you would normally commute.

That one experiment can tell you far more than an online commute calculator.

Is Edmonds, Washington Right for You?

If you want a community with a walkable downtown, waterfront access, beautiful scenery, arts and culture, locally owned businesses and a genuine sense of place, Edmonds deserves to be on your list.

And if you are relocating here, I would encourage you to spend more than an hour touring houses.

Walk Main Street.

Visit the waterfront.

Drive through several neighborhoods.

Try your commute.

Grab dinner downtown.

Visit a park.

Watch the ferry come in.

And if you can, stay for the sunset over the Olympic Mountains.

Because choosing where you live is about far more than bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.

You are choosing what you want your everyday life to feel like.

And that is exactly what makes Edmonds so special.

Thinking about moving to Edmonds or the Greater Seattle area? Reach out to me. I am happy to help you find the perfect neighborhood for your lifestyle. Cheryl Dillon 425-954-5622. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it like to live in Edmonds, Washington?

Edmonds offers a genuinely walkable, small city lifestyle centered around its historic downtown and waterfront, combined with a strong arts and culture identity, ferry access to the Olympic Peninsula, and a real sense of community that many buyers find distinct from surrounding Snohomish County suburbs.

Is Edmonds a good place to relocate to from out of state?

Yes, particularly for buyers who value walkability, community character, and waterfront living. Edmonds often feels immediately familiar to buyers relocating from cities with genuine downtown culture, while still offering reasonable access to Seattle for work.

What is the Edmonds ferry commute actually like?

The Edmonds to Kingston ferry offers a scenic, generally predictable commute for those working on the Olympic Peninsula or in Kitsap County, and many riders come to genuinely enjoy it as a peaceful transition between work and home, rather than viewing it purely as a commute obstacle.

What neighborhoods in Edmonds are closest to the waterfront?

The Bowl, Edmonds' historic downtown core, sits closest to the waterfront and offers the most walkable lifestyle, while the surrounding hillside neighborhoods offer larger lots and often stunning Sound views within a short distance of downtown.

Is Edmonds a walkable town?

Yes, particularly within the downtown Bowl area, where shops, restaurants, galleries, the waterfront, and the ferry terminal are all within comfortable walking distance of one another.

What is the arts and culture scene like in Edmonds?

Edmonds has a genuine, decades long identity as an arts community, including a vibrant local gallery scene, strong arts programming through the local community college, and a full calendar of community events throughout the year.

Ready to Talk?

Whether you are drawn to Edmonds' waterfront charm, its arts community, or simply the idea of a genuinely walkable small city within reach of Seattle, I would love to help you find the specific neighborhood and home that actually fits your life.

Cheryl Dillon is a Realtor in the greater Seattle area helping buyers and sellers navigate life transitions with clarity, strategy, and a genuinely personalized approach.

📞 425-954-5622 📧 Cheryl@CherylDillonRealEstate.com 🌐 CherylDillonRealEstate.com 📍 1455 Leary Way #400, Seattle, WA 98107

Cheryl Dillon is a licensed REALTOR® in the state of Washington with EXP Realty.