Heather is 29, Philip 34, and they have two young children. But they didn't change Snohomish County's population by moving to the Marysville area's Aspen neighborhood.

They moved just seven miles, from a house near Cedarcrest Golf Course on the other side of Interstate 5. Both grew up locally — Heather in Lake Stevens, Philip in Marysville.

What drove their move was more green, as in grass.

"We decided we needed more space, and this seemed like a good spot," said Heather, a stay-at-home mother who devotes her time to their 3- and 1-year-old children.

"It was the first flat piece of property we'd found in two years. This was one of the last three lots."

The couple started construction last July and moved in February.

"We were able to build something that suits our needs later," said Philip, until recently a lineman with the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD).

Both mentioned the need to remain close to their families in Marysville and Lake Stevens, as well as Aspen's acre lots and prices in the $400,000s that now seem a bargain.

"It's a nice community up here," Heather said.

But there's a downside.

"It takes the same amount of time to get to Everett as it did to get to Burlington," Philip said, explaining that he used to drive 14 miles to a PUD site near Paine Field in the same amount of time it takes to go three times that distance to a different job in Skagit County.

Though one of Aspen's advantages is its proximity to I-5, Philip said he never uses that route because the freeway is blocked every morning.

"It's faster to take the back roads," he said.

There could be another move in their future.

"I'd love to move north," Philip said. "Skagit County is where I really want to live. Snohomish County is just growing too much for me. I like it out there; I like the gravel roads."

This month, Philip quit his Snohomish County job and returned to work in Skagit County, partly for additional retirement benefits and partly for the lighter traffic.

Yet the Wolffs are thankful for the way things have turned out.

"This was the smartest thing we ever did," said Philip, noting they got a bargain on their house, were able to add a lot of features and have been pleased with the area.