When you’re raising a family in Greater Seattle and looking for the perfect place to call home, there are many considerations.

Maple Valley in on one of the fastest growing communities outside of Seattle proper, and there’s plenty of reason for that.

With its small-town feeling and big city amenities, you’ll find everything you need in this inviting community.

Here are 5 reasons why families love Maple Valley (and why Westcott loves building homes in the community!)

1. Population – Not Too Small, Not Too Big

Maple Valley sits In southwest Washington State in King County. Having a population of around 25,000 makes it perfect for families to create lifelong connections and friendships. You’re not just a face in the crowd and you’d likely run into people you know going to the store more than once.

Maple Valley is a largely residential community that continues to be a hot spot for families. Westcott Homes has chosen this area to build new homes to help bring high-quality —yet pleasantly affordable — options to people moving into the area.

Although its population is growing, the community of Maple Valley continues to grow with the people in it. In fact, they have a newly built high school to educate teenagers in the area.

The Tahoma School District was ranked 10th of all Washington State Public School Districts in 2018. Tahoma High School is a state-of-the-art facility that includes a sports complex, an indoor climbing wall, a media production room, a 600 seat performing arts center and a Future Ready center.

#2. Special Activities to Fill Your Days and Nights

Maple Valley has no shortage of things to do for families. Whether its bike challenges, fireworks, or outdoor movies, you have your pick for fun during all the seasons.

There’s also a huge selection of recreational classes for all ages — young and not so young — so finding something to do is only difficult in that you have to decide what to do.

Kids in preschool to those in high school have a large selection of sports from which to choose. As in most thriving cities, sports play a big part in kids’ everyday lives. Watch them grow and flourish with all the options that are out there.

While great for kids, Maple Valley also has not forgotten about the adults. They have many recreational sports for adults to keep active, including softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, and others. There really is something for everyone!

If shopping in your speed, there are a plethora of shops and boutiques where you can find anything your heart desires.

For those interested in dining out or enjoying the nightlife, there’s no shortage of options to suit a quiet night out with the family or a more lively girls/guys night out on the town.

#3. Major Cities & Employers Around the Corner

Maple Valley enjoys being a smaller city amongst the bigger ones that are just a short drive away. This makes it convenient for families to enjoy the perks these cities have to offer without having to actually live in a big city.

The close vicinity of these larger metropolitan areas also allows for more job opportunities. Seattle and Bellevue are under an hour’s drive from Maple Valley, so employers, like Drugstore.com, Expedia Group, Eddie Bauer, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, Adobe, Google and more are within the possibilities of employment.

#4. State Parks Standing by for Your Visits

So many parks, so little time! There are many family favorites for residents of Maple Valley. With many parks within driving distance — and in King County — you’ll find there’s always an opportunity to explore and enjoy nature.

The Maple Valley Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce has endless ideas for how you can make the most of the outdoors, so before you head off on your next adventure, check out their Visitor Guide to see the best of what the area has to offer.

Lake Wilderness Park

The beauty and amenities of living by a lake are unmatched in Maple Valley with the proximity of Lake Wilderness Park.

Families can fill their days, evenings, and weekends with a plethora of activities. During the summer, the park offers boat rentals so you can relax on the water or enjoy a gathering with friends and family. The choice is yours.

Is golf more your speed? Enjoy the Lake Wilderness Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 70 facility that offers a challenging for players of any skill level.

The county is consistent with its improvement projects and keeping their amenities and parks throughout King County operating at full-strength and managing their upkeep in an ideal fashion.

Tiger Mountain and Raging River State Forests

Another natural wonder within 10-minutes of Maple Valley is Tiger Mountain State Forest. Raging River is a bit farther but still close enough for a day trip.

Trails galore fill these parks — and it can fill your days — so hiking, biking, horseback riding can be part of your itinerary. They follow the Leave No Trace philosophy as they want to protect the wildlife as well as visitors to the parks.

#5. Volunteering and Community Opportunities Abound

If volunteering is part of your life now or you want to add it your schedule, there are many options from which to choose. It’s a great way to have family time while contributing to the overall success and quality of life in Maple Valley. You can get the family involved with the community by volunteering at places like the food bank.

These acts of altruism help kids have an even larger sense of ownership and pride of where they live because they have a hand in how it’s kept up and viewed by others.

Also, if getting in touch with the community is appealing, don’t miss out on a visit to the award-winning Maple Valley Farmer’s Market, known as the “Saturday Place to Be!”.

Maple Valley is a community for all families where you can lead enriched lives and enjoy everything the state of Washington has to offer. Westcott Homes is bringing even more beauty to the area — and we’re so excited to see you become a part of it.