Best Places to Live &
Work at Boeing Everett

Everett offers the shortest commute (5-15 minutes) and highest concentration of Boeing employees, making it the top choice for convenience. Mukilteo provides waterfront living with excellent schools while maintaining a 10-15 minute commute. Marysville is the most affordable option with a 20-25 minute commute. Your choice depends on priorities: choose Everett for commute, Mukilteo for schools/lifestyle, or Marysville for value.

The commute from Seattle to Boeing Everett is typically 35-50 minutes via I-5 without traffic, but can extend to 60-90 minutes during peak hours (7:00-9:00am southbound, 3:30-6:30pm northbound). The I-5 corridor north of Seattle is one of the most congested areas in Washington. For this reason, most Boeing Everett employees choose to live in Snohomish County rather than commute from Seattle. If you prefer Seattle living, consider the express buses or finding housing in North Seattle neighborhoods.

Yes, Everett is an excellent choice for Boeing employees. Key advantages include:

• Shortest Commute: 5-15 minutes to the plant, some neighborhoods are walking/biking distance
• Affordable Housing: Median home prices around $550K vs $800K+ in Seattle
• Improving Downtown: New restaurants, breweries, and the Waterfront Place development
• Waterfront Access: Marina, beaches, and Port of Everett amenities
• Aerospace Community: Many neighbors are fellow Boeing employees

The main drawbacks are schools that lag behind Eastside districts and fewer urban amenities than Seattle or Bellevue.

The Boeing Everett Factory holds several distinctions:

• World's Largest Building: 472 million cubic feet by volume, covering 98.3 acres
• Wide-Body Aircraft Assembly: Final assembly of the 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner
• Major Employer: Over 30,000 Boeing employees work at the Everett site
• Tourist Attraction: The Future of Flight Aviation Center offers public tours (must book in advance)
• Engineering Marvel: The building is so large it has its own climate system to prevent clouds forming inside

The factory was built in the 1960s specifically for 747 production and has been expanded multiple times to accommodate new aircraft programs.

Boeing Everett offers free employee parking in multiple lots surrounding the facility. However, with 30,000+ employees, parking can be competitive:

• Arrive Early: Come 15-20 minutes before your shift for best spots
• Multiple Lots: Various parking areas serve different buildings/gates
• Carpooling: Boeing encourages carpools/vanpools with preferred parking
• Shift Changes: Traffic and parking are busiest during shift changes
• Bike Parking: Secure bike racks available for those living close enough to cycle

Living closer (Everett, Mukilteo, Marysville) gives you more flexibility with departure times to secure good parking.

Boeing supports employee vanpool programs but does not operate dedicated shuttle buses. Community Transit provides public bus service to the Boeing Everett facility via several routes. Many employees form carpool/vanpool groups, especially from areas like Seattle, Lynnwood, and Marysville. Boeing's transportation office can help connect employees interested in carpooling. Given the large workforce, finding carpool partners is usually straightforward.

School quality varies significantly by city:

• Best Schools: Mukilteo (9/10) and Mill Creek (8/10) offer top-rated schools in the area
• Good Schools: Lynnwood (7/10), Lake Stevens (7/10), and Snohomish (7/10) have solid school districts
• Average Schools: Everett (7/10) and Marysville (6/10) have improving but lower-rated schools

Boeing families prioritizing top schools typically choose Mukilteo or Mill Creek despite slightly higher home prices and longer commutes. Those prioritizing commute time over school ratings often choose Everett and supplement with after-school programs or private education.