Sammamish

Culture
Sammamish is a moderately sized city with a friendly reputation. The majority of people living in Sammamish are families. It’s full of quiet neighborhoods with solid schools. Like many east side suburbs, Sammamish has a high white population; Asians dominate the non-white minorities. It is an affluent area, but much cheaper than Seattle or Bellevue. It’s also a beautiful place with excellent recreation nearby. There are lots of scenic trails and woods around the neighborhoods.

Cost of Living
The cost of living in Sammamish is slightly above the U.S. average and a little higher than in Redmond. The costs of food, utilities, and transportation are roughly equal, but housing is much more expensive--perhaps because there are more large homes in Sammamish than in Redmond. The median home price in Sammamish is over 600,000 and growing. There are few apartments and condos.

Weather
Everything people say about the weather in Western Washington is true. It is dark, gray and rainy through the winter and the summer months are short and sweet. It doesn’t get as cold here as it does in many parts of the northern U.S., but the wet and cloudy weather makes it feel colder. It might take some time to get used to it, but most people adjust.

The key is to get outside even if it’s raining and to plan a few escapes in the winter. There’s excellent skiing and snowshoeing just a short hop from Sammamish. Lots of folks plan short winter trips to sunnier areas to break it up a bit.

Traffic and Parking
Sammamish is a car-centered suburb, but it isn’t crowded so parking on city streets and at businesses is plentiful. In recent years, the city passed an ordinance that limits where and how long vehicles can park, so you may not be able to leave a used car you’re selling or an RV on the street.

Commuting
Sammamish has a growing population of commuters to Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, and Issaquah. It is located between SR520 and I-90 on the east side of Lake Sammamish with Redmond to the northwest and Issaquah to the south. Commuting to Redmond or Issaquah takes around 20 minutes by car. In peak hours, it can take around half an hour. Bellevue is a little farther and takes longer to reach. Commuting by car from the eastside to Seattle is a terrible idea. Lots of folks commute by bike, bus or company shuttle.

Like many Seattle areas, Sammamish has excellent biking and walking trails. There are plenty of designated bike lanes all over the city. The East Lake Sammamish trail links to the Burke-Gilman trail which goes all the way to Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The trails are popular. Bike commuters roll through in the mornings and evenings and strollers flock to the trails on sunny days. Even in the rain, you’ll find a few folks out walking their dogs or taking a short jog.

Restaurants and Shopping
Sammamish is a small bedroom community. You’ll find the usual assortment of fast food restaurants and strip malls. Most big box stores and restaurants are in Issaquah or Redmond a short drive away. There is plenty of shopping nearby in the Bellevue and Crossroads areas.

I grew up on Lake Sammamish, from 3rd grade until graduating from Skyline High School in 2001. Its a very safe place for kids. The downside is most of the families in the area have quite a bit of money, and there isn't much ethnic diversity -- so it's a very sheltered place if you want your kids to grow up with a range of friends with varying ethnicities and economic incomes.