Family needs neighborhood between Bothell and Dupont (Bellevue, Kent: how much, houses)

[srcog]

I may be moving to Washington for a job opportunity. I would be spending most of my time in Bothell and but would often travel to an office in Dupont right off I5. So I'm hoping you can identify some good neghborhoods that are:

• less than 45 minute commute to either office
• great public schools and safe; prefer local shopping/restaurants
• can spend up to $450,000, need a 4 bedroom house

Thanks!

[Ira500]

Hmmm. Interesting challenge finding something less than 45 minutes to Dupont and to Bothell, and with good schools. Maybe Normandy Park? It's pretty, it has good schools, at least elementary wise, has good shopping and restaurants, Trader Joe's..proximity to Burien for more shopping and restaurants...Puget Sound.

[dacx]

The challenge is finding something less than a 45 minute commute to both those places.

If you are willing to give up on that, Bothell area itself is great. The Northshore schools are amongst the best in the state. Plenty of shopping around and decent houses in your price range.

It would take longer than 45 minutes to get to DuPont but how much longer would depend on the time of day you would be driving.

[Inkpoe]

Covington is about halfway in between. Has a decent school district. Affordable neighborhoods. Good shopping areas. Maple Valley could work as well. MV, Eastern Renton area (past Lk Desire and Lk Young) are in the Tahoma school district. Eastern Renton highlands (north of 169) could be covered by Issaquah school district.

Hobart falls into the Issaquah school district which is great. But I don't know if 450,000 would work w/o some compromise. (But I am not a RE agent, so best to consult them about this.) Newport Hills, again pricey neighborhood, but has great school district (Bellevue). Newcastle has areas served by Issaquah SD(Good) and others by Renton SD (meh).

HOWEVER..... keep in mind, all these cities I just listed are around 45mins (or less) from both Dupont and Bothell when there's absolutely NO traffic.

[Ira500]

Inkpoe's post is terrific. It pretty much covers the gamut of what's out there within maybe 45 minutes of both Bothell and Dupont.
Maple Valley might be just slightly more than 45 minutes, but has great schools, is quite a nice place, has the Cedar River trail and the South County Arboretum.
....A very tiny area of Bellevue near Newport Hills, just east of 405, is actually in the Renton school district. The Renton School district, as Inkpoe mentioned, is meh. But those Renton schools closest to the school district boundaries are better than average....
Covington is in the Kent school district, better than Renton's but not as good as Maple Valley's or Issaquah's or Bellevue's.
Kent, Auburn, and Burien might also fall within the "around 45 minutes" to both cities, but none of them are noted for good school districts. But within each of those districts there are a few good schools.
Of the three, Burien has by far the nicest downtown.