Kyoko Wright 01, 2010
Mountlake Terrace’s story
77 years in pictures
Census counts: 9,122 in 1960, 21,286 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 5 maps from 1942 on.
- 1949Mountlake Terrace is founded
Mountlake TerraceWA
A town founded in 1949, now home to 25,430 people.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: ECTran71 (talk) · Public domain
Population
25,430
2025 Census estimate · +19.4% since 2020
Typical home
$658K
−1.9% in a year
Household income
$108K
median
Median age
38.3
years
Jobs based here
6,318
A commuter town
TownGrade
B
#100 of 285 in WA
Is Mountlake Terrace a good place to live?
Strong in places, weak in others. It does especially well on health — it is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns. The catch is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $658K, 5.7 years of the Seattle metro’s $115K median household income. Safety is weaker too: its crime rate is higher than 70% of U.S. towns, with 42 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Overall, that makes a B, better than 57% of U.S. towns. Its place in the ranking is 100th of 285 in Washington. Mountlake Terrace’s density of trails is 1.9 miles per square mile, against 0.8 in Washington’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. On history, just 3 of Washington’s 397 towns do worse.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FBI crime data, 2025 · OpenStreetMap · National Register of Historic Places.
What makes Mountlake Terrace stand out
Where Mountlake Terrace beats most towns.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
4.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
31 measures vs. Washington
5 better26 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | Mountlake Terrace | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.6% | 5.4% |
HealthA
Beats WA on 5 of 31 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Mountlake Terrace for work
Where Mountlake Terrace’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
6,318jobs based in Mountlake Terrace
3%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Mountlake Terrace grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Mountlake Terrace is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.2 of 20; 4.4% of households have no carAOpen →HealthSwedish Edmonds Hospital 1.7 miles awayAOpen →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesDOpen →Jobs & income$108K median household incomeA−Open →Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listC−Open →SafetyBehind most towns comparedCOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors8 miles of trails; 7% conserved landAOpen →History2 notable people born hereD−Open →Civic life3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 158 attractions →Space Needle and 135 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Mountlake Terrace. Close and well known come first.
Big draw12 mi LookoutSpace Needle
Big draw12 mi Stadium & arenaClimate Pledge Arena
Big draw14 mi Stadium & arenaLumen Field
14 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile Park
10 mi Stadium & arenaHusky Stadium
13 mi Ancient siteSeattle UndergroundSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Space Needle: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Climate Pledge Arena: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lumen Field: "Smart Destinations", GoSeattleCard.com, and Go Seattle Card Blog, CC BY-SA 2.0 · T-Mobile Park: MyName (Cacophony), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Husky Stadium: Atomic Taco, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Seattle Underground: Mark Hursh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mountlake Terrace: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mountlake Terrace, and how to reach them.
PowerPuget Sound Energy17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Mountlake Terrace water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpSouthwest Transfer Station21311 61st Place WestOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSnohomish County AuditorSnohomish County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2022
ZIP code9804398043 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Mountlake Terrace.
Mountlake Terrace has fewer 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, costs less than Lynnwood or any other town next door and has seen reported crime fall by about half.
OutdoorsA
Conserved land covers 7.3% of Mountlake Terrace
Terrace Creek "Candy Cane Park", at 52 acres with 1.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Trails total 7.7 miles in 15 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in Mountlake Terrace: 15, covering 170 acres.
#42for trails in WA
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.9 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 7.3% | 4% | 4.3% |
7.3%
conserved · 193 of 2,640 acres
7.7 mi
of trails · 1.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Terrace Creek "Candy Cane Park" | 1.2 mi | 52 |
| 2. Ballinger Park | 0.7 mi | 49 |
| 3. Veterans Memorial Park | 0.3 mi | 9 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
Mountlake Terrace’s public schools outperform 65% of Washington districts
The largest public high school is Mountlake Terrace High School, with 1,456 students. The public schools here belong to the Edmonds School District. Two of its 6 schools are shown below, with the reason for each.
65%of WA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Way ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 522 | – |
| Mountlake Terrace High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,456 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
For health, Mountlake Terrace earns an A
29% of adults have high blood pressure in Mountlake Terrace. For adults in the town, the share who had a checkup this year is 72%.
90%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 71% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 31% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 11% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 18% | 25% |
31 measures vs. Washington
5 better26 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Mountlake Terrace | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.5% | 5.1% |
Swedish Edmonds Hospital
1.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
77th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About one in three of Mountlake Terrace’s working residents commute to Seattle
The top destinations are Seattle (37%), Everett (7%) and Lynnwood (6%). Just 3% of Mountlake Terrace’s working residents have a job in town. Jobs in Mountlake Terrace grew by 590 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 6,318. In Mountlake Terrace, just over a fifth of workers work from home.
3%work in town
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 22% | 15% | 11% |
| Median household income | $108,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 5% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Mountlake Terrace3%
Seattle37%
Everett7%
Lynnwood6%
Bellevue6%
11 mi
median commute distance
6,318
jobs based in Mountlake Terrace
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyC
For safety, Mountlake Terrace earns a C
Reported crimes fell from 689 to 439 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Within Washington, it does better than just over half of towns. Mountlake Terrace’s property crime rate is 15.1 per 1,000 residents.
30%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 15.1 per 1,000 residents | 15 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.6 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Mountlake Terrace1.6
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Mountlake Terrace15.1
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
30th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
51st
percentile among WA towns
42
violent crimes reported in 2025
397
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Top of a high hazard risk in Mountlake Terrace: earthquakes
Of the losses FEMA expects in Mountlake Terrace, 80% come from earthquakes and 16% from inland flooding. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 72% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Mountlake Terrace after 9 declared disasters, most recently in 2025.
72risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
5
paid flood claims since 1994
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Mountlake Terrace, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
The Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo weather station, 8 miles away, records that about 2 days a year reach 90°, fewer than in 95% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 74.6°, cooler than in 98% of U.S. towns; January nights average 35.9°.
About 4 inches of snow falls in a winter. Mountlake Terrace’s peak summer temperature stands at 75°F.
4″snow a winter
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 75°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 36°F | 35°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter36–47°
Spring42–58°
Summer53–73°
Fall45–60°
Nov 23
typical first frost
Mar 8
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
For cost of living, Mountlake Terrace earns a D
Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Lynnwood is next at $739K.
A home in Mountlake Terrace typically sold within 19 days of listing. A typical home in the town is worth about $658,000, down 1.9% in a year, 12% above the Washington typical home. Also worth knowing: among households locally, 57% are owner-occupiers.
$658KZillow home value
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,004 a month | $1,737 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 57% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Mountlake Terrace$658K
Washington$588K
Market temperature
19
days on market
99.4%
sale-to-list price
−1.9%
value change, 1 year
16
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Fewer children than Washington overall
Mountlake Terrace: 17% of residents are under 18. Children under 18 are 17% of residents (21% statewide). Since 2020, Mountlake Terrace has grown 19%, to 25,430 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 43%, against 40% across Washington.
38.3median age · WA 38.3
| Mountlake Terrace | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 43% | 30% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.3 years | 38.6 years | 40.5 years |
Mountlake TerraceWashingtonUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school22%
Some college19%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s28%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.8 points. Across Washington, 49.6% of residents are women. Median age: women 39.5, men 37.2.
| Mountlake Terrace | WA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.1% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.8% | 9.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 19.1% | 15.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.7% | 14.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.1% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.6% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.4% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.1% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.7% | 7.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.5% | 21.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.7% | 21% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.2% | 10% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 28.1% | 24% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.9% | 15.6% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mountlake Terrace
20pages on Mountlake Terrace
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 65% of WA districts · 6 schoolsSafetyC1.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than WA on 5 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$658K typical home · down 1.9% in a yearWork & commuteA−$108K median household income · 6,318 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 72% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
19 within 15 miles of the center of Mountlake Terrace
Edmonds CollegeCommunity college · Public · Lynnwood1.9 mi$4,810 in-state tuitionShoreline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Shoreline4.2 mi$5,115 in-state tuitionUniversity of Washington-Bothell CampusUniversity or college · Public · Bothell5.7 mi$12,919 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Mountlake Terrace residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington.
About Mountlake Terrace
City in Washington, United States
Mountlake Terrace is a suburban city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It lies on the southern border of the county, adjacent to Shoreline and Lynnwood, and is 13 miles (21 km) north of Seattle. The city had a population of 21,286 as of the 2020 census. Mountlake Terrace was founded in 1949 by real estate developers on the site of a disused airfield, intending to provide low-cost housing for veterans. Within five years, the community had grown to over 5,000 people and was incorporated as a city in 1954 to provide municipal services. An industrial park was developed at the northwest corner of the city, which was connected by Interstate 5 after it opened in 1965. Mountlake Terra…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1954
- Area
- 4.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 456 ft
- ZIP code
- 98043
- Area code
- 425
Mountlake Terrace’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Mountlake Terrace.
EdmondsBrierLynnwoodAlderwood ManorMountlake Terrace
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountlake Terrace | #100 | B | D | C | B+ | A |
| Edmonds | #98 | B | D | C− | B+ | A |
| Brier | #46 | B+ | D | — | B+ | A |
| Lynnwood | #200 | C | D | D− | B+ | B+ |
| Alderwood Manor | #67 | B+ | D | — | B+ | A |
Brier and Alderwood Manor report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Mountlake Terrace with a neighbor →
Questions about Mountlake Terrace
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mountlake Terrace, WA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Mountlake Terrace grades B overall, better than 57% of U.S. towns and #100 of 285 in Washington. It grades A for health, C for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Mountlake Terrace, WA safe?
Within Washington, it does better than 51% of towns.
Is Mountlake Terrace, WA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Mountlake Terrace, WA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Seamus Boxley and Devante Downs.