Bellevue, WA
Bellevue, WA scores 61/100 (Fair) on Your Area Score. It is a mid-sized city with a relatively expensive cost profile, a mixed safety profile, and a manageable climate. Whether it is a good place to live will depend heavily on your budget, neighborhood choice, and priorities.
Based on affordability, safety, climate, infrastructure, schools, grocery access, and risk.
Pros
- Safety
- Schools
Cons
- Cost of Living
- Risk
At a Glance
Why Bellevue, WA scored 61/100
Top strengths
- Schools is one of the strongest categories for this city.
- Safety also helps lift the overall score.
- Bellevue, WA may appeal most to families.
Main trade-offs
- Cost of Living is one of the weaker categories here.
- Infrastructure may be a deciding factor depending on your priorities.
- Neighborhood choice still matters because citywide averages never tell the full story.
Category Scores
This city is on the more expensive side for many households, median gross rent is about $2,422, median home value is about $1,139,500, and the local economy may feel narrower than in larger metros. See cheaper cities in WA.
This city has a reasonable safety profile overall. Violent crime is very low at 138.6 per 100k residents, and property crime is above average at 3,339.5 per 100k. Conditions can still vary by neighborhood, so local research is worthwhile. Source: FBI UCR 2024. Compare safer cities in WA.
The climate in Bellevue, WA is generally mild and rainy. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Larger cities usually score better here because they support more services, access, and everyday convenience.
School quality is generally a strength here, although results still vary by district, boundary, and school type.
Most residents should have solid grocery access, though convenience and store variety can depend on which side of the city they live in.
Living in Bellevue, WA
This section turns the score into day-to-day reality: housing, comfort, family fit, convenience, and the main trade-offs you would notice after moving.
Cost, housing, and daily setup
This city is on the more expensive side for many households, median gross rent is about $2,422, median home value is about $1,139,500, and the local economy may feel narrower than in larger metros.
- Median rent: $2,422
- Median home value: $1,139,500
- Best fit: families
Bottom line
Bellevue, WA is currently rated Fair with a MoveScore of 61/100. Its strongest areas are Schools and Safety, while the biggest trade-offs are Cost of Living and Infrastructure.
Climate and comfort
The climate in Bellevue, WA is generally mild and rainy. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Risk and drawbacks
The main environmental risks here include rain, gray winters, and localized earthquake awareness. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
Schools and family fit
School quality is generally a strength here, although results still vary by district, boundary, and school type.
Errands and convenience
Most residents should have solid grocery access, though convenience and store variety can depend on which side of the city they live in.
Entertainment & Things To Do
Bellevue, WA offers strong big-event access, with multiple nearby venues that can support sports, concerts, and major weekend activity.
Best Fit For
- Families who want a workable mix of schools, services, and convenience.
- People who value dining, shopping, events, and a more active city feel.
- People who enjoy distinct seasons and want broader city amenities.
Less Ideal For
- Buyers or renters looking for one of the more affordable city options in Washington.
- People seeking a quieter, lower-density feel with less traffic and big-city activity.
Neighborhood Reality
Bellevue, WA is not uniform. Some areas perform significantly better than others across safety, schools, and overall livability. Where you choose to live within the city will have a major impact on your experience.
What stands out
- Husky Stadium — about 7.7 miles away
- Lumen Field — about 8.2 miles away
- T-Mobile Park — about 8.2 miles away
- Climate Pledge Arena — about 9.4 miles away
Relocation takeaway
People who care about weekend options usually want to know whether a city feels quiet, convenient, or event-driven. Bellevue, WA currently leans more toward regional convenience and big-event access.
Crime & Safety Reality
This is a practical interpretation of the city-level safety score. It should be treated as a broad relocation signal, not a substitute for neighborhood-level research.
What the current score suggests
Bellevue, WA has a mixed safety profile. Some areas will feel more stable and residential, while others may require more careful neighborhood selection. The main environmental risks here include rain, gray winters, and localized earthquake awareness. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
What movers should do next
- Compare neighborhoods, not just city averages.
- Check commute routes after dark, not only daytime convenience.
- Look for trade-offs between affordability, access, and perceived safety.
Traffic & Commute Reality
Traffic quality is not just about how many roads exist. It is about whether the city gives you enough route options to handle daily commuting, errands, and regional travel.
How travel may feel here
Bellevue, WA has workable everyday connectivity, though travel times can stretch depending on commute direction and time of day. A few strong road connections help with local and regional travel, but commute quality will still depend heavily on where you live and where you work.
Why this matters
Cities with stronger access routes usually feel easier for airport runs, cross-town errands, and commuting to job centers. That does not eliminate congestion, but it does improve flexibility when one corridor slows down.
Primary Access & Connectivity
These are some of the main road connections near Bellevue, WA. They help show how easy it is to move around locally, reach job centers, and make longer regional trips.
Interstate 405
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
State Route 520
Useful for local connectivity, everyday errands, and shorter regional trips.
Interstate 5
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Nearby Stadiums & Event Venues
Nearby venues can make a city more appealing for sports fans, concerts, and large events, but they can also increase traffic and activity on event days.
Husky Stadium
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Lumen Field
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
T-Mobile Park
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Climate Pledge Arena
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.