Country Homes, WA

Whitworth University sits right in the middle of Country Homes, giving this north Spokane neighborhood a green, relaxed college-town feel. Tall pine trees and red-brick buildings blend right into the quiet residential streets around them. Living close by means you can walk over to Cowles Auditorium for plays, concerts, and guest speakers, or catch a weekend game on the campus fields. The student crowd adds an energetic vibe to local coffee shops, while nearby shopping plazas take care of your everyday errands.

ATTRWill Maupin / CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting around the neighborhood centers on Country Homes Boulevard, Hawthorne Road, and Waikiki Road. Just up the street, Holmberg Park is a favorite weekend destination with sports fields, playgrounds, and dirt hiking trails that wind up toward Five Mile Prairie. Biking and walking are popular along the main corridors, though you will find that some residential blocks do not have sidewalks, so it pays to test out your walking route to school or the park. For commuters, the Five Mile Park and Ride is just minutes away for quick bus trips into downtown Spokane.

ATTRSpokaneWilly / CC BY-SA 4.0

Since Country Homes is part of unincorporated Spokane County, municipal services and building permits come directly from the county. When looking at houses in the area, be sure to verify the specific utility connections for the property. Many homes tap into the Whitworth Water District and county sewer lines, but some pockets still use private wells or septic tanks. It is also smart to drive your daily commute during morning school drop-off and evening rush hour to see how the neighborhood traffic moves around campus.