The Town FilesMountlake Terrace, Washington
City in Snohomish County · population 21,286 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $667,300
- Household income
- $107,687
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.3
Mountlake Terrace is a city of 21,286 people in Snohomish County, Washington. The median home is worth $667,300, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Washington towns, better transit than 93% of Washington towns.
How Mountlake Terrace ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mountlake Terrace is worth $667,300, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $107,687, which is more affordable than 26% of Washington towns. Median rent is $2,004 a month. 56.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mountlake Terrace | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $667,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $2,004 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $107,687 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 56.9% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mountlake Terrace
| People | Mountlake Terrace | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.5% | — |
| Work from home | 21.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Mountlake Terrace
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 37.2°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 25 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Mountlake Terrace since 1950.
Severe weather in Snohomish County since 1996
Snohomish County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 10, 2022 | Fire | FM-5455: Bolt Creek Fire |
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Snohomish County
Snohomish County had 297,617 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,940 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Mountlake Terrace itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Mountlake Terrace
5 public schools with 3,073 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountlake Terrace High School | 9-12 | 1,385 | 22.7 |
| Cedar Way Elementary | K-6 | 545 | 15.6 |
| Mountlake Terrace Elementary | K-6 | 422 | 14.6 |
| Challenge Elementary | K-6 | 413 | 82.6 |
| Terrace Park Elementary | K-6 | 308 | 10.3 |
Towns near Mountlake Terrace
- Brier, WA1.4 mi · 6,560 people · home $866,600
- Alderwood Manor, WA2.2 mi · 10,198 people · home $700,900
- Esperance, WA2.2 mi · 4,007 people · home $790,700
- Lynnwood, WA2.4 mi · 38,568 people · home $686,900
- Lake Forest Park, WA2.5 mi · 13,630 people · home $953,200
- Edmonds, WA2.7 mi · 42,853 people · home $890,100
- Bothell West, WA3.0 mi · 22,015 people · home $824,900
- Shoreline, WA3.3 mi · 58,608 people · home $811,100
Mountlake Terrace questions
Is Mountlake Terrace, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mountlake Terrace scores better for retirees than 43% of Washington towns and quieter than 7%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Mountlake Terrace?
The median owner-occupied home in Mountlake Terrace is valued at $667,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,687, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $2,004 a month.
What is the weather like in Mountlake Terrace?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 37.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Mountlake Terrace get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Mountlake Terrace in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)