Bellevue, Washington
The City in a Park
LookyLOO Review of Bellevue
Outdoor paradise
The Pacific Northwest is famous for its stunning landscapes, and Bellevue is no exception. This Seattle suburb sits on Lake Washington, offering plenty of ways to enjoy the water—whether it’s kayaking, boating, or swimming, all within city limits. Bellevue is also home to some of western Washington’s best parks, amazing for hiking, biking, camping, and festivals. And if you're around in winter, don’t miss the massive holiday ice rink!
Of course, great nature, top-rated schools, and easy access to Seattle don’t come cheap. Thanks to its proximity to the city and the tech boom, Bellevue’s housing prices have climbed in recent years, with the median home price now just under $1M. That said, if you’re moving from Seattle to escape the big-city grind, Bellevue’s prices might not seem as shocking as they do for folks coming from smaller towns.
Lifestyle
The residents of Bellevue tend to be older and affluent due to the cost of housing. There is a younger crowd living in downtown Bellevue because they work in the city and want to avoid the notorious commutes. That said, much of their free time will still be spent in Seattle for late night or weekend plans.
If you want to see what locals do for fun in Bellevue, check out the calendar of events.
We highly recommend visiting Bellevue and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.
Worklife
Bellevue has become a hub for software engineering and other technology centers. There are satellite offices for large tech companies like eBay, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft, and even a huge Amazon high-rise on the Bellevue skyline. Other headquarters include PACCAR Inc, T-Mobile, and Valve and the largest employers in the city are Microsoft, T-Mobile, and Amazon.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Family Startup
Bellevue is the perfect place for anyone looking to get out of Seattle and start a family. With more remote work opportunities popping up, if you’re relocating for work with a partner or spouse, it won’t be hard for them to bring work along with them! The great schools and amazing nature surrounding Bellevue mean it’s the perfect place for kids and families to grow up.
Reviews of Bellevue from Locals
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sirotan88
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉
We did a similar move from Sunnyvale to Downtown Bellevue 3 years ago and love it here! We are outdoorsy people so it was easy to adjust. It’s refreshing to be so close to the water and to see green year round, be close to mountains, and actually feel like there is some work-life separation and not just living in a giant cookie cutter tech suburb… (sorry Sunnyvale!) There’s still a huge tech presence in Bellevue but at least it’s not completely dominated by tech campuses everywhere. The various parks and neighborhoods are really great, and folks in general seem to be more family and life oriented.
For volleyball, all summer long there are people playing volleyball on the grass at downtown Bellevue park. Not sure how to join these groups but if you are proactive enough maybe you can find one to join. If you like hiking and outdoors then you will have plenty to do. Climbing (indoor & outdoor) is pretty big here, as well as cycling.
The worst part of the year is from November through February where the clock shifts so sun sets around 4pm. The rest of the year between March through October is beautiful. I’d say January and February are the hardest to get through, since November and December have Thanksgiving break and Christmas to break up the monotony. Winter is much more enjoyable if you like skiing. The cold dark months are so worth it for when finally spring comes and the sunsets shift later. Makes you appreciate nature and being outdoors.
For more reviews of what living in Bellevue is like from locals, check out The Reviews.
Want to give Bellevue a shot?
Use our friends at VRBO and Expedia to help get you going!

Living in Bellevue
Neighborhoods in Bellevue
View AllDowntown
Young Professionals
Young professionals that live in Bellevue need to be close to the nightlife that the city has to offer. Despite the fact that it isn’t known for its social scene the way Seattle is there is a downtown area where young professionals live, eat, drink and play. It's a much better option than living in Seattle and commuting to Bellevue.
- Downtown
- Woodridge