Living in Bonney Lake, WA
Lake Tapps and the communities that surround its shores mostly consist of high-end waterfront homes and neighborhoods with perks such as private beach and boat launch access. Although homes here tend to be on the pricier side, this is the place to be if you’re looking for quick access to the water and that quintessential lake lifestyle.
Bonney Lake is located just south of Lake Tapps and includes easy access to many local amenities as well as stunning Mt. Rainier views. Bonney Lake offers a broad variety of living options across a wider range of price points, which helps get a bit more bang for your buck.
This neighborhood guide is all about living in Bonney Lake. If you would like to find out more about living in Lake Tapps, visit my Lake Tapps neighborhood guide here.
About Bonney Lake
Can you imagine getting a front-row seat to this view everyday? For those who call Bonney Lake home, it’s just one of the many perks that come with living here (at least on the days the mountain is out!).
Bonney Lake’s northern border runs along the bottom of Lake Tapps and the city continues to extend southeast over a large surface area, eventually leading into the town of Buckley.
Contrary to what it’s name suggests, there actually isn’t a major lake called Bonney Lake in this area. Instead you’ll find two smaller lakes, Lake Bonney and Debra Jane Lake, which are only suitable for activities like swimming, fishing, or use of small boats without combustion engines. If you are looking for some more serious action on the water, there’s no need to worry – Lake Tapps is only a hop, skip, and jump away!
There are plenty of other outdoor activities to choose from in Bonney Lake as well. One popular spot is Victor Falls Park, which offers a serene setting with views of 70-foot high Victor Falls.
Another one of the main advantages of Bonney Lake is it’s close proximity to local amenities. A wide variety of businesses, restaurants, shops, and health care facilities are sprinkled generously along the HWY-410 corridor, which shoots straight through the middle of Bonney Lake from end to end. Check out the list at the bottom of this post highlighting some of my favorites!
Bonney Lake Neighborhoods
Bonney Lake encompasses neighborhoods of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Whether it be a new construction home in a rapidly growing suburban community or an older home with lots of yard and a bit more space between neighbors, there’s a little something for everyone. This variety of options provides prospective homebuyers with more to choose from and makes it a little easier to find something that will meet their preferences while also staying within their desired price point.
One of Bonney Lake’s more notable new home communities that has rapidly grown in size and popularity is Tehaleh (tay-ha-lay), which means “highlands” or “the land above.”
Tehaleh is like a world of its own. Located on an elevated plateau in the south part of Bonney Lake, the community describes themselves as ‘Puget Sound’s largest collection of new homebuilders and home plans,’ boasting eye-popping views of Mt. Rainier and 1,800 acres of parks, trails, and open space. There’s also a restaurant, coffee shop, visitor’s center, and several community events for the whole family to enjoy.
The community has no plans of slowing down and future plans are to continue expansion over the next 20 years. According to their website, ‘When complete, Tehaleh will feature more than 1,800 acres of parks, trails, and open space, up to 9,700 homes, and 475 acres dedicated to employment uses. This includes our upcoming 112-acre lifestyle/commercial center which offers a high visibility retail site as well as 2- to 20-acre woodland-buffered sites available for a range of commercial, corporate campus, medical office, and light industrial uses.’
Tehaleh will appeal most to homebuyers who are looking for a real sense of community that they can actively become involved with, or for those that are looking to build or buy new construction. If you’re searching for a retirement community, there’s also Triology at Tehaleh, which is specifically for those 55 and older.
If a new construction suburban community isn’t your thing, Bonney Lake has several other options where you might be able to find a little more space between you and your neighbor. There are some more established suburban communities such as Sky Island that tend to have larger lot sizes, or neighborhoods like Debra Jane Lake where you can get a taste of lake living without breaking the bank.
Between the variety of neighborhoods to choose from, the close proximity to shopping and local amenities, and the astounding Mt. Rainier views, there’s a little something for everyone in Bonney Lake! Whether you are considering a move to the area or are just visiting, here are some highlights to check out while you’re there.
Restaurants:
- Trapper’s Sushi
- BURCHE
- Hops n’ Drops
- Lamppost Coffee Roasters
- Thian Thai
- CJs Deli and Catering
- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
- Glow Martini Lounge
- Bigfoot Java
Shopping:
Recreation:
Fast Facts about Bonney Lake
Demographics
- Current population: 21, 092 (2018)
- Median age: 35
- Bachelors’ degree or higher: 24.2%
- Median household income: $91,368 (2018)
- Median home price: $310,500
Commute Times
- Seattle – 38 miles, 45 mins
- Tacoma – 16 miles, 28 mins
- Olympia – 41 miles, 51 mins
- JBLM – 25 miles, 35 mins
- Avoid the traffic and take the Sounder Train. There’s a station located in Sumner about 5 miles away that can get you to Lakewood within 35 minutes or Seattle within 45 minutes, with several stops along the way in both directions.
City Website: City of Bonney Lake
School District: Sumner/Bonney Lake School District
Crime: City of Bonney Lake Police Department
