Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Lake Stevens, WA

    Is Lake Stevens a good place to live?

    Watch Lake Stevens

    Lake Stevens ranks #5 of 51 Washington cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (72/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $593,900
    +15.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $2,189
    per month
    Household income
    $118,290
    median
    Unemployment
    4.8%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Lake Stevens

    The median home value in Lake Stevens is $593,900 and median rent is $2,189 a month, against a median household income of $118,290. Homes cost about 5.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Lake Stevens crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Washington the 2025 rate was 292 violent and 2,017 property crimes per 100,000 people — #8 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Lake Stevens, WA

    Lake Stevens has about 39,500 residents, 4.8% unemployment and 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Lake Stevens with

    Lake Stevens vs SeattleLake Stevens vs SpokaneLake Stevens vs TacomaLake Stevens vs VancouverLake Stevens vs BellevueLake Stevens vs KentLake Stevens vs EverettLake Stevens vs Spokane Valley

    More: Where to move in Washington · Best counties in Washington

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report