Washington State Best Places To Live

Washington State is an amazing place to call home. Whether you’re in the Puget Sound region, a beach-goer who prefers the Olympic Coast or a fan of mountains and evergreen forests there is no shortage of places to live and enjoy. Choosing the best place to live in Washington State isn’t easy, but we’re here to help guide you through it.

Looking for the best places to live in Washington State? Whether you’re looking for a quaint small town or large city environment, Washington has a lot to offer. Our list of the top 20 places to live in Washington is based on our own research and data from Census.gov . Data was entered into a formula we created making sure to give each place 20 points for being listed as one of the Best Places to Live by Money Magazine, 20 points for having an average home price that was below $233,000 (the national median), 10 points for an average 2 bedroom rent below $1265 (the national median), 10 points for population less than 50,000, 10 points if it had a popular website among other cities in Washington like govisitwa.com, 5 points if it received recognition from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport, 5 points if it has a great school district according to school-info.com (each state has their own grading scale), and finally 5 points if it had awesome weather based on its annual precipitation compared to other places.

Whether you plan on relocating to Washington or just doing some planning, it’s always helpful to have a guide. Here are some of the best places in Washington State.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Washington’s population grew by 6.9% between April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014 making it one of the fastest growing states in the country. This means hundreds of thousands of new Washingtonians have moved to the state in recent years, seeking new opportunities and looking for an attractive place to live.

When many people hear the name Washington, the first thing that springs to mind is the District of Columbia. You too probably landed here in search of the best places to live in D.C.

Washington State often gets confused with the American seat of power, and it’s understandable. Turns out, the state went by the name Columbia when it was still a territory. The name change was precipitated by the need to differentiate it with the District of Columbia.

Washington State Best Places To Live

So, how desirable is the Evergreen State for anyone looking to put down roots here?

It is called evergreen for a reason. Washington is a breathtaking wonderland of perfectly landscaped beauty, and it is not that surprising to know its wilderness is rumoured to be a favourite hangout spot for Bigfoot, with over 600 Sasquatch sightings reported.

The state is home to two volcanoes, Mount St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. It has more glaciers than the other 47 contiguous states put together, with a classic Pacific Northwest terrain marked by the Cascades and a treasured coast.

Gallup ranks it as the seventh-most liberal state in America, so you can bet its outdoor-loving folk are a pretty awesome bunch.

The state, the only one to be named after a U.S. president, is the largest apple producer in the country, claiming the bragging rights as the headquarters of some of the world’s biggest and most admired employers – Amazon, Microsoft, Costco and Starbucks.

Expectedly, Washingtonians enjoy some of the highest incomes in the nation, ranking 12-highest in terms of per-capita personal income. This is also one of seven states that don’t pay state individual income tax.

And it comes with the added bonus of making significant savings on your energy bills as the electricity rates in WA are the third cheapest in America.

On the downside, Washington’s beauty and perks of living here don’t come for cheap. This is a state you may want to relocate to if you are well loaded because the overall cost of living is a bit steep, with housing prices that many will consider to be above the roof.

Then again, that is to be expected with the likes of Bill Gates to call neighbours.

Here then, are the 15 best places to live in Washington State based on crime rate, school system excellence, home affordability, and growth and prosperity.

1. Redmond

Tech enthusiasts will recognize Redmond as the home of Microsoft, the largest employer in town. The town of 58,000 people was named by Niche.com the #1 best place to live in Washington.

It sits at a very convenient location that is just 16 miles from the state’s largest city, Seattle, and a home here will set you back $485,100 on average.

But that is nothing for the thousands of residents employed in the many tech companies around who take home $103,409 on average per household. Apart from Microsoft, other notable tech firms include Nintendo, Solstice, AT & T and Genie Industries.

Redmond is home to the most popular park in King County, the Marymoor Park, whose 640 acres of sprawling space is used for picnics, sports, festivals, concerts, biking trails and more.

The town also has a distinguished school system which has made the AP District Honor Roll several times.

   25 Most Beautiful Medieval Castles in the World

Play Video

2. Sammamish

Sammamish is a city in King County bordered by Lake Sammamish where 50,200 people call home.

Cost of living here is higher compared to Redmond, with median home value standing at $609,600. The town has evolved from its rural roots and into a booming suburb that is within convenient location of Seattle (25 miles).

The Sammamish Commons area guarantees acres of outdoor fun, with wetlands and hiking trails, golf courses and grounds for festivals such as Shakespeare in the Park.

As with most suburbs in King County, the public school system is outstanding, from elementary right through 12th grade.

All things considered, it is obvious why Sammamish often ranks as one of the best places to raise a family in Washington.

3. Pullman

Pullman is a town of 31,500 residents located in Whitman County on the southeast side of Washington.

What attracts many people to scenic Pullman is its low cost of living in relation to the perks it offers: low crime rate, high number of restaurants, shops and entertainment options, good education and a plethora of outdoor activities.

You can rent a two-bedroom single-family home in Pullman for $710 (below national average), while home value in the area stands at an affordable $222,900 on average. That’s LOW for an area that has won numerous national awards and received honourable mentions for its beauty.

Pullman is home to the Washington State University where about 20,000 students are enrolled. The University of Idaho is also minutes away as Pullman is located near the Idaho border, just across from Moscow Idaho.

If you are looking for a town that is affordable and has a college vibe with dozens of parks and natural areas, Pullman is an excellent choice.

4. Issaquah

Issaquah is a suburb of Seattle that is a popular hiking destination, thanks to its rich network of mountains and lakes. It is only befitting then that it be nicknamed the “Trailhead City”.

It is home to one of the largest retailers in the United States, Costco, headquartered here. This is a city on the up, as is evident from the numerous apartment complexes sprouting in the area. However, most of the homes are single-family, with rents averaging $1,533 a month.

Despite the development, Issaquah is not about to lose its soul. The community is set on becoming a source of urban agriculture by incorporating more gardens and local produce.

As far as education goes, the town of 33,682 residents has some of the best schools in the nation. Its class of 2014, in particular, emerged a respectable seventh on the highest composite scores on the ACT.