Mill Creek vs Bothell: Which Is Better for a Google Kirkland Hybrid Schedule in 2026?

Short answer: If you work at Google Kirkland on a hybrid schedule and want the most choices and the most room to negotiate, Bothell is the better place to start. If you have already settled on a single-family house and are ready to compete for it, Mill Creek is worth a look, but expect a faster market. Both cities posted almost the same median sale price in September 2026, about $1 million, according to Redfin. The difference is how they behave. Mill Creek homes sold in a median of 19 days and 27.3% went for more than list price. In Bothell it took 33 days, only 12.0% went over list, and 54.7% of homes had a price drop. Bothell also sits on the I-405 corridor where Sound Transit is building three Stride S2 stations, and Mill Creek has none.

Mill Creek vs Bothell at a glance

Source: Redfin housing market pages for Mill Creek, WA and Bothell, WA, September 2026 data, checked October 29, 2026. Redfin hadn't posted October figures yet. Mill Creek's 56 sales is a small sample, so its median can swing a lot from month to month depending on which homes happen to close.

Same price, different negotiating room

A $1 million median in both cities hides two very different buying experiences. In Mill Creek, prices rose 5.2% from a year earlier and more than a quarter of homes sold over asking. That means a well-priced house can draw more than one offer, and you should have your pre-approval, inspection plan, and down payment ready before you tour.

In Bothell, prices fell 9.13% year over year, homes sat about two weeks longer, and more than half of listings cut their price at some point. That gives a buyer more time to compare, and more room to ask for a lower price, seller-paid closing costs, or a rate buydown. With 135 sales in September versus 56 in Mill Creek, Bothell also simply has more homes changing hands.

Which one has a cheaper way in?

Bothell does. Redfin's September 2026 figures by home type show a Bothell median of $489,950 for condos, $975,012 for townhouses, and $1,119,554 for single-family homes. Condo and townhouse figures rest on fewer than 20 sales each, so treat them as rough. Redfin's Mill Creek page doesn't break out September prices by home type, so we're not quoting a Mill Creek condo or townhouse median here. Ask us for recent sold comps instead.

What does the monthly payment look like?

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% for the week of October 29, 2026. Principal and interest alone come to roughly:

• Mill Creek median ($999,693): 20% down ($199,939) is about $5,450/month; 5% down ($49,985) is about $6,472/month.
• Bothell median ($999,524): 20% down ($199,905) is about $5,449/month; 5% down ($49,976) is about $6,471/month.
• Bothell median condo ($489,950): 20% down ($97,990) is about $2,671/month; 5% down ($24,498) is about $3,172/month.

These leave out property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and mortgage insurance, which lenders usually require with less than 20% down. Your own rate depends on credit, loan type, and points, so get a lender quote before you compare homes. If part of your down payment is coming from vested Google stock, ask your lender early how they want the sale documented.

The commute: I-405 and the Stride S2 Line

Google's official locations page lists two Kirkland offices: the 6th St Campus at 777 6th St South and Kirkland Urban at 425 Urban Plaza. From either city, the drive to them runs mostly on I-405.

Sound Transit is building the Stride S2 Line, bus rapid transit along I-405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue, with buses every 10 to 15 minutes, 17+ hours a day, seven days a week. Sound Transit's timeline shows it opening in 2029. Of its seven stations, three are in Bothell: Canyon Park (I-405 and SR 527, next to the Canyon Park Park-and-Ride), Bothell/Woodinville Transit Center, and Brickyard (I-405 and NE 160th St). Heading south, the line stops at Totem Lake and at the new Kirkland/NE 85th Station, which will have local bus connections to downtown Kirkland.

Mill Creek has no S2 station. The closest one is Canyon Park in Bothell, so a Mill Creek commuter would drive or take a local bus to Canyon Park first. On a two-or-three-day office week, that extra step matters less than it would five days a week. But if a one-seat transit option down I-405 is high on your list, a home within reach of one of the Bothell stations gives you that option once the line opens.

Until 2029, plan on driving. WSDOT expects the rebuilt I-405/NE 85th Street interchange in Kirkland to open to traffic in early 2027, and it will add direct access to the I-405 express toll lanes.

How to choose

1. Decide on home type first. If a condo or townhouse fits, Bothell gives you far more to choose from at a lower entry price.
2. Match your offer plan to the market. In Mill Creek, be ready to move within days. In Bothell, look at price-reduced listings and ask for concessions.
3. Drive the commute at your real office hours. Try it on a Tuesday morning and a Thursday evening before you write an offer.
4. Check the exact address. Bothell spans King and Snohomish counties, so taxes, utilities, and the programs you qualify for can differ by street. Confirm with the county assessor and your lender.
5. Look at the walk to transit. If you want the S2 option, measure the actual walk or drive from the home to Canyon Park, Bothell/Woodinville Transit Center, or Brickyard.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mill Creek or Bothell cheaper in 2026?

Their overall medians are nearly identical, $999,693 in Mill Creek and $999,524 in Bothell for September 2026 (Redfin). Bothell is cheaper to get into because it has more condos and townhouses, with a September condo median of $489,950.

Which is closer to Google Kirkland, Mill Creek or Bothell?

Bothell borders Kirkland's north side and Mill Creek sits farther north, so from most of Bothell the trip is shorter. Drive time depends on the exact address and the hour, so test it at your real commute times.

Will there be transit from Bothell to Kirkland?

Yes, once Sound Transit's Stride S2 Line opens, which its timeline shows for 2029. It will stop at Canyon Park, Bothell/Woodinville Transit Center, and Brickyard in Bothell, then Totem Lake and Kirkland/NE 85th in Kirkland, with buses every 10 to 15 minutes.

Is Mill Creek a competitive market right now?

Yes. Redfin rated it 80 out of 100 (very competitive) for the three months ending September 2026, with a median of 19 days on market and 27.3% of homes selling above list.

Talk it through with us

Odigo Real Estate Club helps people who already work on the Eastside and in Snohomish County compare cities by price, payment, and commute before they tour. Our team has 25+ years combined experience in King and Snohomish counties. For more on Bothell prices by home type, see our Bothell first-time buyer guide, or compare Snohomish County commutes in Lynnwood vs Edmonds vs Bothell.

Odigo Real Estate Club · Peter Kim · 16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087 · (425) 409-3823 · Monday–Saturday, 9 AM–6 PM

Figures checked October 29, 2026. Market data changes monthly; this article is general information, not financial or lending advice.

Sources

• Redfin, Mill Creek, WA Housing Market (September 2026 data): https://www.redfin.com/city/11701/WA/Mill-Creek/housing-market — median $999,693 (+5.2% YoY), 56 sold, 19 DOM, sale-to-list 99.4%, above list 27.3%, price drops "--", $434/sq ft, Compete Score 80.
• Redfin, Bothell, WA Housing Market (September 2026 data): https://www.redfin.com/city/29439/WA/Bothell/housing-market — median $999,524 (−9.13% YoY), 135 sold, 33 DOM, sale-to-list 98.6%, above list 12.0%, price drops 54.7%, $454/sq ft, Compete Score 65.
• Redfin Bothell by property type (September 2026, re-pulled 2026-10-29 9:15 AM PT): condo $489,950 (18 sold), townhouse $975,012 (19 sold), single-family $1,119,554.
• Freddie Mac PMMS, 30-yr fixed 7.24% as of 10/29/2026: https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms.
• Sound Transit, Stride S2 Line overview (every 10–15 min, 17+ hrs/day, 7 days, Lynnwood–Bellevue, seven stations): https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/stride-s2-line
• Sound Transit, Stride S2 timeline (open for service 2029): https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/stride-s2-line/timeline-milestones
• Sound Transit Stride project site, station names and Bothell station locations: https://stride-brt.participate.online/project-overview/stride-stations/ and https://stride-brt.participate.online/how-we-got-here/stride-s2/
• Sound Transit Stride S2 folio (Kirkland/NE 85th local connections to downtown Kirkland and Redmond): https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/stride-s2-folio.pdf
• WSDOT, I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange project (opening to traffic early 2027, ETL direct access): https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405-northeast-85th-street-interchange-and-inline-brt-station-project
• Google office locations (Kirkland 6th St Campus, 777 6th St South; Kirkland Urban, 425 Urban Plz): https://about.google/company-info/locations/

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