Kirkland
Houghton
Established lakeside calm with Carillon Point on the doorstep.
On the map
Boundary is approximate — refined per neighborhood over time.
Pacific Relocation's take
Old-Kirkland calm with a Carillon Point sunset.
Houghton is our pick for clients who want established, tree-lined Kirkland without the downtown bustle, and who value the Lake Washington High assignment (10/10) that the neighborhood feeds. Carillon Point — its marina, the Woodmark Hotel, and the waterfront restaurants — gives Houghton a quiet prestige, and Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park is one of the best swim beaches on the lake. The housing is a settled mix of mid-century houses with real yards and a handful of managed complexes off 6th Street, so families chasing space and a dog do well here, though listings are limited and lean on spring. The Cross Kirkland Corridor on the east edge makes a flat, car-free run to downtown in about fifteen minutes by bike. It is residential and car-light rather than walkable in the downtown sense; we set that expectation up front and point walk-everywhere clients to Moss Bay instead.
Lifestyle figures
Best of Houghton for you
Beach / water
- Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park0.6 km
Sandy swim beach with seasonal lifeguard, dock, and sand volleyball, with Seattle skyline views across the lake.
Directions ↗Pinned on map - Marsh Park1.0 km
Small lawn-and-dock park between Houghton and downtown for a quiet swim or paddle launch.
Directions ↗Pinned on map
Status / prestige
- Carillon Point0.7 km
The lakeside hotel, marina, and office-and-dining complex — Houghton's signature address and sunset spot.
- The Woodmark Hotel0.7 km
The Eastside's only on-the-water hotel, at Carillon Point — where many relocating executives stay first.
Outdoors / hiking / parks
- Cross Kirkland Corridor0.5 km
The rail-trail runs the length of Houghton's east side — a flat car-free spine to downtown and Totem Lake.
Directions ↗Pinned on map - Watershed Park1.2 km
Wooded creek-and-wetland park with short trails tucked into the Houghton hillside.
Directions ↗Pinned on map
To buy (USD)
| Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | 420,000 | 515,000 | 660,000 |
| 2 BR | 555,000 | 675,000 | 865,000 |
| 3 BR | 805,000 | 980,000 | 1,250,000 |
Estimated from local rents — placeholder, pending verified sale data.
Rent ranges (USD)
| Type | Low | Median | High | Δ 12mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | 1,950 | 2,250 | 2,700 | ↑ 1.0% |
| 2 BR | 2,500 | 2,950 | 3,700 | ↑ 1.0% |
| 3 BR | 3,400 | 4,300 | 5,800 | ↑ 0.5% |
Source: Rentals.ca + Zumper Q1 2026, refreshed weekly via our rent worker.
Our advice
Before you sign a lease
- Many rentals are owner-leased mid-century houses — confirm who maintains the yard and aging systems (some homes still have older furnaces or oil heat)
- Lake Washington Blvd carries steady traffic and the 6th Street corridor backs up at rush hour — tour at peak before committing to a street-facing unit
- Carillon-area and lake-view condos carry HOA rental caps and stricter pet rules; verify rental and pet capacity before paying a deposit
Pacific Relocation
Want our help finding a place here?
Book a free 30-min Discovery Call with Pacific Relocation.
Last reviewed 2026-06-11.