Stanwood, WA Properties | Real Property Associates, Inc.

Back

Stanwood is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington, set at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River where it flows into Port Susan, an arm of Puget Sound. Settlement began around 1866 near the river's mouth under the name Centerville, serving the farmers and loggers who were staking claims upriver and across the delta. The community later developed as a pair of twin towns, Stanwood and East Stanwood, which together served as the commercial and school hub for the small surrounding settlements—Warm Beach, Florence, Woodland, Victoria, Freeborn, and Cedarhome—and for nearby Camano Island. East Stanwood was incorporated in 1914. The city's modern role is that of a gateway between Camano Island and the mainland and a bedroom community for Seattle and Everett. Since the 1990s, Stanwood has annexed uphill areas that were developed into suburban subdivisions, expanding well beyond its original riverfront core while retaining the character of a small Puget Sound town. Roughly 9,700 people live in the city today, and its urban growth area extends to include additional unincorporated land such as Northwest Stanwood. Stanwood's identity is tied to water and farmland. The Stillaguamish delta, Port Susan, and nearby Skagit Bay frame the landscape, and Camano Island lies just across the State Route 532 causeway. Residents enjoy a slower, outdoors-oriented pace with direct access to boating, fishing, and shoreline parks, while the Stanwood-Camano School District and a compact, walkable downtown give the community a genuine town center. A shopping and entertainment district developed in the 1990s brought restaurants, retail, and a movie theater to town. For commuters, the city offers a train station on the Amtrak Cascades corridor and bus connections toward Everett and Seattle. The drive to Seattle is roughly 50 miles and typically takes well over an hour, which keeps Stanwood oriented toward local services and the Everett-area job market while still drawing households who value a quieter, waterfront-anchored small town on the north Puget Sound.

Population 9,700

County Snohomish

Active Listings 214

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Stanwood, Washington in?

Stanwood is located in Snohomish County, Washington, in the northern part of the county near the Skagit County line. It sits at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River on Port Susan, an arm of Puget Sound, and is closely connected to nearby Camano Island.

What school district serves Stanwood?

Stanwood is served by the Stanwood-Camano School District (No. 401), a public district covering both Stanwood and Camano Island. The district enrolls roughly 4,900 students across about 11 schools in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.

Where is Stanwood located?

Stanwood is located at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River where it flows into Port Susan, part of Puget Sound, about 50 miles north of Seattle. The city lies just across the State Route 532 causeway from Camano Island and is surrounded by the river delta and surrounding farm country.

Does Stanwood have a train station?

Yes. Stanwood Station offers Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service, connecting the city to the regional rail corridor between Seattle and points north. The city is also served by Community Transit buses toward Everett and Seattle, and Island Transit links Stanwood to Camano Island.

How far is Stanwood from Seattle?

Stanwood is roughly 50 miles north of downtown Seattle, and the drive typically takes well over an hour depending on traffic. Commuters generally travel south on Interstate 5 after crossing from State Route 532, and bus and Amtrak Cascades rail options are also available.

City Guide

About Stanwood

Real Estate & Housing

Stanwood's housing stock reflects its evolution from a farm-town hub into a commuter-oriented community. The historic core retains older homes near downtown and the Stillaguamish River, while the city has annexed uphill areas that were developed into suburban subdivisions beginning in the 1990s. The result is a mix of established in-town properties and newer single-family neighborhoods, with larger rural and waterfront parcels in the surrounding countryside and toward Camano Island. As a bedroom community for Seattle and Everett, much of the newer construction is family-oriented, and the broader Stanwood-Camano area offers a wide range of settings from in-town lots to acreage.

Neighborhoods

Stanwood is anchored by a historic downtown and riverfront core, with the adjoining East Stanwood reflecting the community's twin-town origins. Uphill from the delta, the city's annexed areas hold the suburban subdivisions that expanded Stanwood during its 1990s growth, and the unincorporated Northwest Stanwood area sits just outside the city limits within its urban growth boundary. Nearby communities such as Warm Beach and the town of Camano Island, reached via State Route 532, are closely tied to Stanwood's schools, services, and commerce, giving the area a shared small-town identity across the delta and the island.

Lifestyle in Stanwood

Life in Stanwood centers on a small-town, waterfront-oriented pace. Downtown's Heritage Park and the surrounding commercial district provide a gathering place, and a shopping and entertainment center developed in the 1990s added restaurants, retail, and a movie theater to the community. The Stillaguamish River and Port Susan support boating, fishing, and shoreline recreation, while Camano Island's parks and beaches are a short drive away. Combined with an active school community and recurring local events, Stanwood offers a Puget Sound lifestyle that balances rural calm with practical access to Everett and Seattle.

Schools & Education

Stanwood is served by the Stanwood-Camano School District (No. 401), a public district that covers both Stanwood and Camano Island and enrolls roughly 4,900 students across about 11 schools in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. The district operates elementary, middle, and high schools along the Pioneer Highway corridor and is a central institution in the community, with school facilities shared with the city's Heritage Park. Families considering the area generally look to the district's campuses as a key part of the Stanwood-Camano living experience.

Getting Around

Stanwood sits along State Route 532, which connects Camano Island to Interstate 5 and is the city's primary highway link. Stanwood Station provides Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service, and Community Transit operates bus routes from Stanwood toward Smokey Point, Boeing, and downtown Seattle, as well as connections to Everett Station and Seaway Transit Center. Island Transit links Stanwood with Camano Island. The drive to Seattle is roughly 50 miles and typically takes well over an hour, making Stanwood a longer-distance commuter town for the Everett and Seattle job markets.

Parks & Recreation

Stanwood maintains eight public parks totaling about 86 acres, ranging from nature sanctuaries and neighborhood parks to playgrounds, sports fields, and boat launches. Heritage Park, the city's largest at 44 acres, sits downtown and is shared with the school district. The Stillaguamish River, Port Susan, and nearby Skagit Bay provide boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing, while Camano Island's state and county parks extend the recreation options across the bridge. This combination of river, sound, and island access makes the outdoors a defining feature of life in Stanwood.

MARKET SNAPSHOT