Random Best Places In Washington To Live (25 items)

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  (#1) Vancouver

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 174,836

  Median income: $56,615

  Median home price: $265,700

  Pros: Vancouver began a major revitalization project in the late 1990s in an attempt to spruce up its downtown area and bring in investments and visitors. Among the major parts of the project are The Luxe, Library Square, and Prestige Plaza.

  Cons: While on a state level Vancouver's crime rate is actually lower than the Washington average, it still runs 26 percent higher than the natinoal average. Household income is also low for Washington, and property values are 19 percent lower than the rest of the state.
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  (#2) Seattle

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 704,358

  Median income: $83,476

  Median home price: $606,200

  Pros: The Emerald City is one of the most prominent cultural centers in the U.S., as the birthplace of grunge music, a haven for the jazz scene of the early 20th century, and the home of Amazon. Located on the Puget Sound, it is one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the Pacific Northwest and is known for its iconic Space Needle, built for the World's Fair in 1962.

  Cons: The cost of living is outrageously high (38 percent higher than the state average and 59 percent higher than the national average), and the crime rate is likewise astronomical, more than double the national average and 69 percent higher than the rest of the state.
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  (#3) Spokane

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 215,964

  Median income: $45,676

  Median home price: $170,900

  Pros: A theater district to be proud of, a revitalized downtown, and a commitment to the arts that shows in its many museums, Spokane has attempted admirably to respond to the downturn in the manufacturing industry by pivoting to a more service- and tourism-oriented economy. It has been mostly successful, but not without some growing pains.

  Cons: Crime has proven to be a serious problem in Spokane, with rates more than double the state average and almost triple the national average. Household income and property values also remain depressed, with both well below the state averages.
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  (#4) Olympia

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 49,218

  Median income: $57,064

  Median home price: $265,148

  Pros: The capital city of Washington, Olympia has proven to be a cultural touchstone in the heart of the state, as well as a dedicated protector of public lands. Its many parks include Priest Point, Burfoot, and Sunrise, and most prominent is perhaps the Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area.

  Cons: Despite high property values and a better-than-average educational system, Olympia lags behind the state and national average in household income, and the unemployment rate is 15 percent higher than the U.S. average. Crime is also an issue, with a crime rate 34 percent higher than the rest of the state.
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  (#5) Bellevue

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 141,415

  Median income: $113,877

  Median home price: $756,800

  Pros: Bellevue is a medium-sized city beset on all sides by gorgeous wilderness and numerous hiking trails. The median income is well above the national average, and technology companies provided a wealth of job opportunities. Local K-12 schools consistently rank among the highest quality in the state.

  Cons: Cost of living is high, with housing and transportation expenses significantly higher than the national average. 
• 

  (#6) Tacoma

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 211,304

  Median income: $55,996

  Median home price: $239,100

  Pros: The third-largest city in Washington, Tacoma is a popular destination for tourists with many well regarded museums, a vibrant theater scene, and an annual film festival. But investments in the downtown area and the local economy have also made Tacoma a desirable city to settle in for those looking for big-city amenities with a small-town feel.

  Cons: Crime rates are 84 percent higher than the rest of Washington and more than double those of the U.S. Household income is also 15 percent lower than the state average.
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  (#7) Everett

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 109,035

  Median income: $52,626

  Median home price: $293,700

  Pros: Featuring a bustling downtown and business district, as well as a commitment to parks and gardens, like the Nishiyama Garden and the Evergreen Arboretum, Everett has a variety of attractions that appeal to a wide range of visitors and residents alike.

  Cons: Unfortunately, high cost of living, high crime rates compared to the rest of the state, and low average household incomes have made Everett a difficult city for newcomers looking to set up shop. The gradutation rate also runs behind the rest of the state with school test scores 16 percent below the national average.
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  (#8) Pullman

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 31,682

  Median income: $29,717

  Median home price: $265,099

  Pros: Home to Washington State University, Pullman is one of the safest cities in Washington, with crime rates more than 50 percent below the state average, and was once ranked the best place in the state to raise kids. It sits on gorgeous agricultural land and offers a variety of activities, many of which cater to the town's college students.

  Cons: The average household income in Pullman is significantly lower (56 percent) than the rest of the state and half that of the nation as a whole. And while home values are 13 percent below the Washington average, home ownership rates are 55 percent below the national average.
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  (#9) Puyallup

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 39,105

  Median income: $67,447

  Median home price: $293,285

  Pros: Puyallup is a generally quiet small town located just outside Tacoma, but for three weeks a year in September, it becomes the hub of Washington as home to the Washington State Fair, one of the 10 largest fairs in the country. It regularly attracts more than 1 million visitors and is the city's premier attraction.

  Cons: While Puyallup ranks about average in many of the quality-of-life indexes, such as cost of living, educational quality, and employment, compared to the rest of the state, it's crime rate is 74 percent higher than the Washington average and more than double the national average.
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  (#10) Spokane Valley

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 96,337

  Median income: $53,043

  Median home price: $201,300

  Pros: A remote but populous city near the eastern border of Washington, Spokane Valley has established itself as one of the cultural centers of the eastern portion of the state. It is home to the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, a minor league baseball team, and the annual Valleyfest.

  Cons: The crime rate is high, and household income and property values are low, particularly when compared against the rest of the state. 
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  (#11) Auburn

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 75,968

  Median income: $60,430

  Median home price: $279,800

  Pros: Auburn is an outdoorsman's dream with more than 20 miles of trails for hikers, cyclists, and runners, and a park system conisting of 28 dedicated park spaces scattered throughout the city. 

  Cons: All of that fun is when the sun is out, though, and locals report a less-than-vibrant night-life scene once the sun goes down. The crime rate is above average for Washington, and the average home value is low compared to the rest of the state.
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  (#12) Bellingham

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 87,577

  Median income: $47,652

  Median home price: $352,700

  Pros: Located on the Puget Sound, Bellingham is one of those great sports cities even sports fans sometimes overlook, featuring plentiful skiing and snowboarding in the winter and kayaking and cycling in the summer. The city is also home to the Bellingham Bells (baseball), the Slam (basketball), the Blazers (hockey), and the Bulldogs (football).

  Cons: High crime rates (43 percent above the state average) and low household income (29 percent below the state average) combine to make Bellingham a hard sell as a place for a family looking to settle down. While property values remain high, the average home ownership rate is 29 percent lower than the national average.
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  (#13) Federal Way

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 96,748

  Median income: $65,788

  Median home price: $314,700

  Pros: Federal Way, which has experienced significant growth since the mid-1990s, is probably best known for its many city and state parks. These include Steel Lake Park, Celebration Park, West Hylebos Wetlands, and Dumas Bay Centre Park.

  Cons: Crime rates are double the national average and 70 percent higher than elsewhere in Washington state. Even so, the cost of living remains high, 3 percent over the state average but 18 percent than state numbers.
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  (#14) Kirkland

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 87,672

  Median income: $114,336

  Median home price: $582,100

  Pros: The former home of the Seattle Seahawks, Kirkland has thrived, even without its popular NFL franchise. The downtown waterfrton is a major economic and cultural center, featuring restaurants, art galleries, public parks, and a collection of public art. Income, property values, and education all routinely score high marks compared to the rest of the state.

  Cons: Of course, the price of a low crime rate, high property value, and quality schools can often be found in the high cost of living. Kirkland's cost of living rates 38 percent higher than the rest of Washington and 59 percent ahead of the rest of the nation.
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  (#15) Lakewood

  • Colorado, USA

  Population: 59,610

  Median income: $47,445

  Median home price: $247,728

  Pros: Settled originally 1833 but only incorporated in 1996, Lakewood is a city still developing its identity and personality. It features the Lakewold Gardens, the Lakewood Towne Center, and the Lakewood Playhouse, and its economy is heavily dependent on nearby military bases.

  Cons: Crime is high at 51 percent above the Washington average and nearly double the national average. Income also runs about 28 percent below the state average. Property values and home ownership rates are also significantly below the national average.
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  (#16) Mount Vernon

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 33,132

  Median income: $53,282

  Median home price: $226,009

  Pros: In the 1990s, Mount Vernon was among the best small towns in the U.S., even ranking No. 1 in a national poll in 1998. Located in the beautiful northwestern portion of the state, it the city is best known for its annual Tulip Festival Street Fair.

  Cons: Despite its scenic beauty, Mount Vernon often ranks poorly in top quality-of-life indicators such as crime rate (13 percent above the state average), househould income (22 percent below average), home value (23 percent below average), and school quality (graduation rate is 12 percent below state average).
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  (#17) Pasco

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 71,934

  Median income: $57,092

  Median home price: $180,600

  Pros: Pasco is a youthful, outdoorsy town with a median age of 29, well below the national average. Sacajawea State Park and Wahluke Slope are among the top attractions in the town, where the cost of living is nearly 20 percent lower than the state average. Crime rates are also 37 percent lower than the rest of Washington.

  Cons: On the downside, household incomes are lowere than the Washington average and stagnant, while home values are 38 percent below the state average. This may have something to do with the poor educational system, where high school graduation rates are 23 percent lower than the state average.
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  (#18) Redmond

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 59,285

  Median income: $117,278

  Median home price: $633,119

  Pros: A technology-driven town with headquarters of both Microsoft and Nintendo, Redmond is one of the most desirable cities in Washington settle down. Graduation rates and test scores rank significantly higher than state and national averages. The average household income is twice the national average and the average home value is more than three times the national average.

  Cons: All that desirability comes at significant expense, and the cost of living in Redmond is 45 percent higher than the rest of Washington and 67 percent greater than the national average.
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  (#19) Renton

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 100,952

  Median income: $71,951

  Median home price: $373,400

  Pros: Renton has proven to be a city dedicated to providing opportunities, entertainment, and commerce to its citizens, undergoing a major revitalization since the turn of the century, particularly its downtown areas. One of the largest cities in Washington, home values and household income are high when compared to state averages.

  Cons: While successful in many aspects, the modern revitalization has had the side effect of driving up the cost of living, which is 21 percent higher on average than the rest of the state. In addition, the crime rate is more than 50 percent higher than the Washington average.
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  (#20) Richland

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 53,019

  Median income: $71,387

  Median home price: $233,587

  Pros: Nicknamed Atomic City as the former home of one of the Manhattan Project sites, Richland consistently ranks highly in many of the most desirable traits for cities, with high property values, low cost of living, high-quality education, and low crime rates when compared with the rest of the state and the nation.

  Cons: Get ready for climate whiplash. Located near the Washington-Oregon border in the center of the state, Richland experiences wild swings in temperature from season to season, with 100-degree heat in the summer and and snowy, single-digit temperatures in the winter.
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  (#21) Sammamish

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 51,229

  Median income: $167,441

  Median home price: $753,471

  Pros: Home to beautiful Lake Sammamish and surrounded by greenery on all sides, Sammamish is one of the prettiest cities in Washington. Quiet and secluded, it nevertheless is located near enough to Seattle to offer all of the big-city highlights with few of the drawbacks. Crime is 80 percent below the state average and household income is nearly 2.5 times the rest of Washington.

  Cons: That beauty and safety comes at a price, with the cost of living 57 percent higher in Sammamish than the rest of the state. Likewise, housing prices are a whopping 132 percent above the Washington average, though home ownership rates are also sky high (34 percent above the U.S. average).
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  (#22) Walla Walla

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 31,910

  Median income: $44,650

  Median home price: $197,061

  Pros: Located near the Washington-Oregon border on fertile valley land, Walla Walla has risen in prominence throughout the 21st century as a premier producer of wines, and a numer of local wineries have scored top marks from internationally respected wine publications. Walla Walla is also known for its annual Sweet Onion Festival. 

  Cons: The high school graduation rate is 8 percent lower than the Washington average and slightly lower than the national average. Crime rates are 14 percent higher than the rest of the state, and household income is 33 percent lower than Washington state on average.
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  (#23) Yakima

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 93,974

  Median income: $41,454

  Median home price: $162,100

  Pros: Set in the valley about 60 miles south of Mount Rainier, Yakima is among the most productive and fertile agricultural regions in the state, at one point producing more than three-quarters of all hops grown in the U.S. The city has shown a dedication to history and culture with the Yakima Valley Museum, an annual jazz festival, and the Yakima Area Arboretum.

  Cons: Crime rates are nearly 50 percent above the state average, while average household income is 35 percent below the rest of the state. The high school graduation rate is also a dismal 68 percent, 22 percent below the Washington average.
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  (#24) Kent

  Population: 127,506

  Median income: $65,423

  Median home price: $320,000

  Pros: Kent is probably best known as the site of the Boeing Kent Space Center, opened in 1964, and Boeing remains the largest employer in the city, with nearly 10,000 employees. 

  Cons: Even with a high crime rate (65 percent above the state average) and high cost of living, the biggest mark against Kent is possibly that there just isn't much to do. Many locals report a lack of entertainment options and a generally non-existent night life.
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  (#25) Aberdeen

  Population: 16,255

  Median income: $45,117

  Median home price: $114,469

  Pros: Probably best known as the hometown of legendary Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain (the town even features a "Welcome to Aberdeen" sign that references a Nirvana song), Aberdeen is a small fishing and timber community that was hit particularly hard by the Great Recession of the late 2000s and early 2010s.

  Cons: Housing prices remain depressed since the recession, with home values 55 percent lower than Washington state averages, and household income is 36 percent behind the state average. The crime rate is also 48 percent higher than the rest of Washington.

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