Is Everett a Bad Buy for Amazon Employees Because Light Rail Is Not Here Until the 2030s?
Short answer: No. Everett is not automatically a bad buy for Amazon employees who already work in the Seattle area just because light rail is years away. Sound Transit currently projects the Everett Link Extension to open in phases between 2037 and 2041—so you should not count on a daily Link ride from Everett Station when you buy in 2026. What you can count on today is a lower entry price than Lynnwood or Seattle, plus Sounder, ST Express buses, and a drive-or-bus connection to the 1 Line at Lynnwood City Center.
Amazon's Seattle-area offices are concentrated in South Lake Union and downtown Seattle. If your days in office are already hybrid, the missing Everett Link line is a planning fact—not a deal-breaker. Below are the current numbers, all checked on October 15, 2026.
When does light rail actually reach Everett?
Sound Transit's Everett Link Extension will add about 16 miles of light rail and six funded stations north of Lynnwood City Center: West Alderwood, Ash Way, Mariner, SW Everett Industrial Center, SR 526/Evergreen, and Everett Station. A seventh station at SR 99/Airport Road is provisional (studied, not funded for construction).
The opening window is 2037 to 2041, in two phases under the updated ST3 System Plan the Sound Transit Board approved in May 2026:
- 2037 (Phase 1): Service from Lynnwood City Center to SW Everett Industrial Center.
- 2041 (Phase 2): The two northernmost stations—SR 526/Evergreen and Everett Station—open.
Sound Transit estimates about 33 minutes from Everett to Lynnwood City Center and about 60 minutes from Everett to downtown Seattle once the full line is running, with trains every 4–6 minutes at peak. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published September 18, 2026; public comments run through November 2. Treat Everett Link as a long-term bonus for a 2026 purchase—not as your year-one commute.
What works today if you need to reach Amazon in Seattle
You have three practical transit paths from Everett before Link arrives. None is perfect; all are real options people already use.
1. Drive or bus to Lynnwood City Center, then ride the 1 Line
Lynnwood City Center is the current northern end of the 1 Line. Sound Transit's published schedule shows a trip leaving Lynnwood City Center at 5:00 AM arriving at Westlake in downtown Seattle at 5:31 AM—about 31 minutes. During the weekday morning peak, trains run roughly every 8 minutes. Westlake puts you close to downtown and a short connection toward South Lake Union. If daily rail into Seattle is non-negotiable, living near an easy, predictable path to Lynnwood City Center (or buying in Lynnwood itself) is the Link play today.
2. ST Express 510 bus, Everett to downtown Seattle
On weekdays the 510 leaves Everett Station Bay C1 from about 5:10 to 8:40 AM toward Seattle, with many trips spaced about 15 minutes apart in the peak. The 6:05 AM trip is scheduled to reach 5th Ave and Pine St at 7:06 AM (about an hour). Afternoon buses leave downtown from about 2:00 to 6:30 PM. The adult fare is $3.00. The 510 is slower when I-5 is jammed, but it gives you far more departure times than Sounder and drops you in the downtown core near Amazon's South Lake Union / downtown campus footprint.
3. Sounder N Line (limited weekday trains)
Sounder still runs Everett to King Street Station in about 59 minutes on weekdays, but only four trains each way in the peak windows. It is a strong fit if your Amazon days align with those trains and you live close to Everett, Mukilteo, or Edmonds Station. For full times, fares, and how Sounder should shape a home search, see our companion guide: Can I take Sounder from Everett to Seattle? Do not plan a five-day Sounder-only commute unless the schedule truly matches your desk days.
Everett vs. Lynnwood vs. Seattle on price (Redfin, three months ending September 2026)
These are citywide medians across all home types (houses, condos, townhomes). Everett's median sits roughly $160K below Lynnwood and roughly $280K below Seattle over the same three-month window. Redfin also showed Everett homes going pending in about 13 days with a 99.7% sale-to-list ratio, so well-priced homes still move. The trade-off is clear: Everett buys you more house for the dollar today; Lynnwood buys you a shorter path to frequent Link service into downtown.
Related comparison: Everett vs. Lynnwood for Boeing and tech workers.
How to decide: Everett can still work—if you are honest about your week
- Count your office days, not a fantasy five-day rail commute. If you are in South Lake Union or downtown two or three days a week, a longer Everett trip is often worth the price gap. If you are in five days a week and refuse transfers, lean Lynnwood (or closer) for Link.
- Map door-to-platform or door-to-bus time at commute hour. A cheap Everett purchase that adds a 25-minute congested drive to Lynnwood City Center or Everett Station is a different deal than a home five minutes from the 510 or Sounder.
- Keep a Plan B within reach. Sounder's last regular afternoon train leaves King Street early. The 510 and the 1 Line from Lynnwood cover late meetings better. Buy where at least two of those three options are realistic.
- Price Everett Link as optionality, not as a 2027 amenity. Phase 1 in 2037 and Everett Station in 2041 may help resale for patient owners, but your mortgage payment starts now. Underwrite the commute you have today.
Frequently asked questions
Is Everett a bad buy for Amazon employees because light rail is not here until the 2030s?
No. Light rail to Everett Station is currently projected for 2041 (with Phase 1 service to SW Everett Industrial Center in 2037), but Sounder, ST Express 510, and Link from Lynnwood City Center already connect Everett-area buyers to downtown Seattle and South Lake Union. Lower median prices than Lynnwood or Seattle can offset a longer trip, especially on a hybrid schedule.
When does the Everett Link Extension open?
Sound Transit lists opening as 2037–2041. Phase 1 (Lynnwood City Center to SW Everett Industrial Center) is scheduled for 2037; SR 526/Evergreen and Everett Station are scheduled for 2041.
How long is the 1 Line from Lynnwood City Center to Westlake?
About 31 minutes on Sound Transit's published schedule (for example, 5:00 AM from Lynnwood City Center arrives Westlake at 5:31 AM), with roughly 8-minute morning peak frequency.
Can I commute from Everett to Amazon without light rail?
Yes. Common paths are the ST Express 510 into downtown, Sounder N Line to King Street Station (limited weekday trains), or a connection to the 1 Line at Lynnwood City Center. Match the mode to your office days and meeting times.
Is Lynnwood a better buy than Everett if I need daily Link?
If daily, frequent light rail into downtown Seattle is your top priority, Lynnwood City Center is the Link endpoint today—and Redfin's three-month median there ($734,650) is higher than Everett's ($574,726). Buyers who prioritize price and can live with Sounder, bus, or a Link transfer often still choose Everett.
Will buying in Everett now benefit from future light rail?
Possibly over a long hold—Sound Transit is advancing the Draft EIS and the line is fully funded under the May 2026 System Plan update—but opening is still more than a decade away. Do not buy Everett solely for a 2037–2041 station opening.
Talk it through with a local agent
If you already work at Amazon in South Lake Union or downtown Seattle and are weighing Everett against Lynnwood, we can map real door-to-transit times for the homes you are considering and pull current sales near Everett Station, South Everett Freeway Station, and Lynnwood City Center. Odigo Real Estate Club has 25+ years combined experience helping buyers across King and Snohomish counties.
Odigo Real Estate Club
Peter Kim, Broker
16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087
(425) 409-3823
Office hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM
Schedules, fares and prices were checked on October 15, 2026, and can change. Confirm current times at soundtransit.org before you rely on them. Light-rail opening years are Sound Transit projections and may shift.
About the Author
Peter Kim
Peter Kim is the owner of Odigo Real Estate Club, a leading real estate agency in the Greater Seattle area that specializes in residential, commercial, and luxury properties. With over 25 years of combined experience and a team of highly skilled agents, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the real estate space.
