Historic Estate vs Brand-New Beachside Home: What $1.1M Gets You In Everett vs Tacoma

4918 S 3rd Avenue in Everett Left: 4918 S 3rd Avenue in Everett. Right: 425 Ton-A-Wan-Da Avenue NE in Tacoma. (Daily Realty Group/ Windermere)

A little over $1 million can buy you a nearly century-old historic estate tied to Everett’s industrial roots — or a brand-new home a block from the beach in Tacoma.

Both are in Western Washington. That’s where the similarities end.

Everett: Historic Estate, Nearly 4,000 Sq Ft, Deep Local Roots

$1,135,000 — 4918 S 3rd Avenue, Lowell (Everett)

  • 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  • 3,736 square feet
  • 0.36-acre lot
  • Built in 1924

In Everett’s historic Lowell neighborhood, this home isn’t just a property — it’s a piece of the city’s origin story.

Known as the Killien House, it was built in 1924 for a paper mill assistant superintendent during the height of Everett’s industrial boom. The neighborhood itself predates Everett, shaped by workers tied to the pulp and paper industry that defined the area for decades.

Inside, the home still carries that legacy. A grand staircase anchors the entry. French doors open into formal living and dining spaces. High ceilings and oversized rooms give it a sense of scale that’s hard to replicate today.

Modern updates bring it into the present — quartz countertops, stainless appliances — but much of the original craftsmanship remains, from woodwork to layout.

Outside, the nearly half-acre lot offers fruit trees, gardens, and space that feels almost suburban by today’s standards. 

There’s also a massive detached garage with soaring ceilings, plus a separate structure that could become a studio, office, or additional living space.

At this price point in Everett, you’re buying history, size, and land — all in one.

Click here to view the complete listing on Zillow.

Tacoma: New Construction, Beach Access, Modern Living

$1,195,000 — 425 Ton-A-Wan-Da Ave NE, Browns Point (Tacoma)

  • 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
  • 2,885 square feet
  • Built in 2025

In Tacoma’s Browns Point neighborhood, the same budget delivers something entirely different: brand-new construction just steps from the water.

Located one block from the beach and Lighthouse Park, this home is designed around modern living and clean, high-end finishes.

The main level is built for flow — an open great room, wide-plank oak floors, and a kitchen centered around a 10-foot island with natural stone countertops and a 36-inch gas range. There’s a walk-in pantry, coffee and wine bar, and a layout that leans into entertaining.

Upstairs, the primary suite feels like a retreat, with a spa-style bathroom and a private deck offering views of the Sound and sunsets.

Everything is new, efficient, and designed for how people live today — a sharp contrast to Everett’s preserved past.

Click here to view the complete listing on Zillow.

Old Soul vs New Build

At roughly the same price, one home tells a story nearly a century in the making. The other offers a clean slate, built for modern life near the water.

Same budget. Two completely different ways to live.

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