Mill Creek, WA Properties | Real Property Associates, Inc.

Back

Mill Creek is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, located south of Everett and northeast of Lynnwood, about twenty miles from downtown Seattle. Its population was 20,926 at the 2020 census, concentrated in a compact city of roughly 4.7 square miles. Mill Creek is one of the region's most deliberately designed communities: conceived in the 1970s as a master-planned development by the Tokyu Land Corporation, it was built around a country club and golf course rather than a traditional town center, and it incorporated as a city on September 30, 1983. Because the original plan had no downtown, the city later created one. The Mill Creek Town Center, opened in the mid-2000s along the Bothell-Everett Highway, is a lifestyle center with about 88 shops, restaurants, and services that now serves as the community's commercial and social heart. Together with the Mill Creek Country Club, it completes the vision of a self-contained suburban community, giving residents a walkable gathering place without leaving the city. For residents, Mill Creek is defined by an active, outdoors-oriented lifestyle. The city maintains ten or more neighborhood and community parks, more than 23 miles of nature trails, and a nature preserve, all woven through its landscaped neighborhoods. Students attend the Everett School District — including Mill Creek Elementary, opened in 1988 — with parts of the city served by the Northshore School District. As one of the county's higher-income, family-oriented communities with strong schools and convenient access to Seattle, Everett, and the Eastside employment centers, Mill Creek remains a model of the master-planned Pacific Northwest suburb.

Population 20,926

County Snohomish

Active Listings 84

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Mill Creek, Washington in?

Mill Creek is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, located south of Everett and northeast of Lynnwood. It sits about twenty miles northeast of Seattle in the southern part of the county.

What is Mill Creek known for?

Mill Creek is known as a master-planned community conceived in the 1970s around a country club and golf course, and for the Mill Creek Town Center, a lifestyle shopping district built later to give the city a walkable commercial and social core.

When was Mill Creek incorporated?

Mill Creek was formally incorporated as a city on September 30, 1983, shortly after the first phase of its master-planned development was completed. The community has grown through continued suburban development and annexation since then.

What school districts serve Mill Creek?

Mill Creek is served primarily by the Everett School District, with Mill Creek Elementary School in the city, and parts of the city also fall within the Northshore School District.

How far is Mill Creek from Seattle?

Mill Creek sits about twenty miles northeast of Seattle, south of Everett, along the Bothell-Everett Highway. The location provides convenient access to Seattle, the Eastside employment centers, and the broader Snohomish County region.

What recreation does Mill Creek offer?

Mill Creek offers the Mill Creek Country Club for golf, ten or more neighborhood and community parks, more than 23 miles of nature trails, and a nature preserve, supporting a physically active, outdoor-oriented lifestyle.

City Guide

About Mill Creek

Real Estate & Housing

Mill Creek's housing stock reflects its master-planned origins, with well-maintained single-family neighborhoods, townhomes, and some multi-family developments arranged around the golf course and the city's trail network. Homes span the community's original 1970s and 1980s phases through newer construction, and the planned, landscaped character of the streetscape is a defining feature. The city is compact at roughly 4.7 square miles, and its high-income profile is reflected in well-kept properties. The Mill Creek Country Club and nearby Town Center add value and convenience, making the city a sought-after Snohomish County address for those seeking a polished, active suburban setting.

Neighborhoods

Mill Creek is organized around its golf course and its trail-connected neighborhoods. The original master-planned phases cluster near the Mill Creek Country Club, with landscaped streets and cul-de-sacs characteristic of 1970s and 1980s design, while newer developments have filled in around the city's edges. The Mill Creek Town Center, along the Bothell-Everett Highway, anchors the commercial and social core, and the city's parks and preserve are woven through the residential fabric. Rather than a traditional downtown, Mill Creek's identity comes from its planned neighborhoods, its greenbelts and trails, and the country club that remains its geographic and cultural centerpiece.

Lifestyle in Mill Creek

Mill Creek offers a tidy, planned suburban lifestyle with a strong emphasis on the outdoors. The city's golf-course origins are preserved in the Mill Creek Country Club, while an extensive network of parks and more than 23 miles of nature trails encourages walking, running, and cycling as part of daily life. The Mill Creek Town Center provides a walkable commercial and social core with dozens of shops and restaurants, giving residents a genuine gathering place. As one of Snohomish County's higher-income communities, Mill Creek attracts families and professionals seeking well-maintained neighborhoods, strong schools, and convenient access to Everett, Bothell, and Seattle.

Schools & Education

Mill Creek is served primarily by the Everett School District, which operates Mill Creek Elementary School within the city, opened in 1988, along with Heatherwood Middle School and Henry M. Jackson High School serving the area. Parts of Mill Creek also fall within the Northshore School District. The Everett district's schools, including its gifted and talented programming at Mill Creek Elementary, are well regarded and contribute to the city's family-oriented, high-income profile. Higher-education options include nearby community colleges and the universities of the Seattle area.

Getting Around

Mill Creek sits along the Bothell-Everett Highway (State Route 527) and near Interstate 5, providing access south to Seattle and north to Everett. The city is about twenty miles northeast of Seattle, and its position in southern Snohomish County places the Eastside employment centers and the Paine Field area within convenient reach. Public transit serves the city through regional bus routes, and the Mill Creek Town Center is a focal point for local travel. Within the city, the extensive trail network supports walking and cycling, though most regional commuting is by car.

Parks & Recreation

Mill Creek's recreation is built around its parks, trails, and golf heritage. The Mill Creek Country Club anchors the city with a private golf course, while the city maintains more than ten neighborhood and community parks with playgrounds, sports courts, and open space. A network of over 23 miles of nature trails and a nature preserve support walking, running, and cycling, and pickleball has become a notable local pastime. The trail system connects neighborhoods to the Town Center and the country club, reinforcing the city's active, outdoor-oriented character. Regional recreation in Everett, Bothell, and the Cascade foothills is within easy reach.

MARKET SNAPSHOT