North Bend

Character
North Bend is a small community in eastern King County. It is nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range 31 miles east of Seattle.  It has a small mountain community feel and is known for its rugged beauty. Hikers frequent the area trails and it’s close to some of the best skiing in Washington.
In recent years, it has become a bedroom community for Seattle and the eastside suburbs. Shoppers and tourist also flock to the North Bend Premium Outlet Mall and to the Snoqualmie Casino.

Cost of Living
North Bend is significantly cheaper than many of the eastside suburbs. It feels like you are well outside the city, but it’s just a quick drive up I-5. Housing prices have come up a lot in the last 10 years or so. The median house price used to be under $300,000, now it’s just over $400,000.  Utilities are also much cheaper. But like many small communities, food, healthcare and transportation are more expensive.

Traffic and Parking
North Bend is small and doesn’t suffer from the same traffic and parking congestion as most of the burbs. But, as the town grows so does the traffic. Traffic can be heavy around the mall and the casino. I-90 isn’t bad this far East of Seattle (except during holiday weekends) but the freeway gets crowded quickly as you travel East.

Commuting
Commuting to Bellevue, Issaquah, or Redmond from North Bend wouldn’t be too bad (as Seattle commutes go).  It’s about 20 minutes down I-90 to Issaquah and 30 minutes to Bellevue. Redmond is a bit longer, it’s about a 40-minute drive down I-90 and West Lake Sammamish Parkway. There is also frequent bus service to Issaquah and a handful of vanpools and rideshares to the east side burbs.  If you are considering commuting to Seattle, just don’t. It looks ok on the map, but traffic from Bellevue to Seattle down I-90 is a real nightmare.

Shopping and Restaurants
North Bend is small. There aren’t a ton of choices outside the outlet mall or the casino. There are a few American-style cafes and grills, Mexican restaurants and a handful of Asian eateries. The outlet mall features 50 clothing and sportswear shops including Gap Outlet, Nike, Under Armor, Coach, and more. The casino is a great place to gamble and eat and there are frequent shows.

Weather
North Bend is a slightly higher elevation than Seattle so it does see some snow along with the usual winter rains. Western Washington is known for it’s gray skies in the winter and short mild summers. It’s certainly true. The gloom and rain are too much for some folks, but most adjust. North Bend is close to skiing where you can get above the rain in the winter. It's also a short drive over the pass to Eastern Washington where it is much drier.