What Fremont feels like
Fremont sits between Wallingford and Ballard, on the north side of the Ship Canal. Its identity is built on public art — the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge, the Lenin statue, the Waiting for the Interurban sculpture — and on an independent, creative streak that has survived even as Google and other tech employers have moved in along the waterfront.
Housing in Fremont
Fremont's housing is mostly residential blocks of craftsman bungalows and Tudor Revivals from the 1910s-1930s, climbing up the hill to the north toward Phinney Ridge. Closer to the canal and the commercial core, you'll find more multi-family, condos, and recent townhome construction. The northern and western reaches blend into Phinney Ridge and Ballard respectively.
What to know if you're buying in Fremont
- The commercial core is walkable but also gets busy — homes within a block or two of N 36th Street trade off walkability for some noise.
- Older bungalows often have knob-and-tube and original plumbing; budget for upgrades.
- Fremont's hill climb means basement units can have moisture issues. Look closely.
- Proximity to tech employers (especially Google's Fremont campus) keeps demand strong and prices steady.
Schools and weekends
BF Day Elementary serves much of Fremont. McClure Middle School and Ballard High School are the typical secondary path. Weekends in Fremont mean the Sunday Market, brunch at any of the half-dozen excellent spots on N 36th, a beer at Fremont Brewing, and a walk along the Burke-Gilman Trail.