Best places to live in Washington
We cover 18 places in Washington, home to 2.87 million residents. The largest is Seattle (785,000), the fastest growing since 2020 is Redmond (+12.6%), and the lowest metro price level is in Yakima (95.5). Washington has no state income tax on wages. The average combined sales tax is 9.57%.
Best places to live in Washington, ranked
Each city gets a score out of 100 from six official measures, weighted as shown: home prices compared with income (25%), household income (15%), population growth since 2020 (15%), short commutes (15%), comfortable months of weather (15%) and low poverty (15%). Scores compare all 546 large US cities, so a 70 in Washington means the same as a 70 anywhere. See the national ranking and method.
| # | City | Score | Home value to income | Income | Growth | Commute | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redmond | 64 | 7.2× | $162,560 | +12.6% | 22 min | 5 |
| 2 | Vancouver | 58 | 5.7× | $81,338 | +4.6% | 23 min | 7 |
| 3 | Kirkland | 58 | 7.4× | $150,414 | +5.7% | 24 min | 5 |
| 4 | Spokane Valley | 55 | 5.2× | $74,042 | +5.2% | 21 min | 5 |
| 5 | Pasco | 55 | 4.4× | $85,586 | +7.1% | 23 min | 3 |
| 6 | Bellevue | 53 | 8.1× | $165,576 | +1.5% | 24 min | 5 |
| 7 | Marysville | 53 | 5.5× | $103,974 | +9.9% | 32 min | 4 |
| 8 | Seattle | 52 | 7.6× | $123,860 | +6.5% | 26 min | 5 |
| 9 | Spokane | 48 | 5.2× | $70,064 | +0.8% | 21 min | 5 |
| 10 | Kennewick | 48 | 5.0× | $73,576 | +5.3% | 21 min | 3 |
| 11 | Tacoma | 47 | 5.6× | $85,884 | +4.6% | 29 min | 5 |
| 12 | Auburn | 43 | 5.6× | $97,884 | -2.4% | 31 min | 5 |
| 13 | Yakima | 42 | 4.7× | $62,815 | +0.5% | 18 min | 3 |
| 14 | Everett | 41 | 6.8× | $83,512 | +2.8% | 27 min | 5 |
| 15 | Renton | 41 | 6.7× | $100,432 | -1.8% | 30 min | 5 |
| 16 | Bellingham | 41 | 9.4× | $66,755 | +5.4% | 18 min | 5 |
| 17 | Kent | 39 | 6.4× | $92,302 | -0.4% | 30 min | 5 |
| 18 | Federal Way | 34 | 6.4× | $86,909 | -1.3% | 32 min | 5 |
Best for retirees, young professionals or families? Every city page shows all four scores, and the city quiz ranks cities by what matters to you.
Largest cities in Washington
| City | Population 2025 | Growth | Home value | Rent | Income | Price level | Jan high | Jul high |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 784,777 | +6.5% | $938,600 | $2,030 | $123,860 | 111.1 | 47° | 77° |
| Spokane | 230,783 | +0.8% | $363,500 | $1,215 | $70,064 | 100.3 | 35° | 84° |
| Tacoma | 229,816 | +4.6% | $479,600 | $1,676 | $85,884 | 111.1 | 48° | 77° |
| Vancouver | 199,698 | +4.6% | $462,400 | $1,702 | $81,338 | 105.4 | 48° | 82° |
| Bellevue | 154,193 | +1.5% | $1,340,300 | $2,572 | $165,576 | 111.1 | 47° | 77° |
| Kent | 134,871 | -0.4% | $587,800 | $1,909 | $92,302 | 111.1 | 48° | 77° |
| Everett | 113,567 | +2.8% | $565,300 | $1,740 | $83,512 | 111.1 | 46° | 72° |
| Spokane Valley | 108,405 | +5.2% | $382,300 | $1,353 | $74,042 | 100.3 | 35° | 84° |
| Renton | 104,975 | -1.8% | $672,600 | $1,998 | $100,432 | 111.1 | 48° | 77° |
| Federal Way | 99,729 | -1.3% | $552,800 | $1,797 | $86,909 | 111.1 | 48° | 77° |
| Yakima | 97,458 | +0.5% | $297,600 | $1,117 | $62,815 | 95.5 | 40° | 90° |
| Kirkland | 97,410 | +5.7% | $1,115,400 | $2,401 | $150,414 | 111.1 | 47° | 77° |
| Bellingham | 96,395 | +5.4% | $627,500 | $1,577 | $66,755 | 103.3 | 46° | 73° |
| Kennewick | 88,366 | +5.3% | $370,700 | $1,240 | $73,576 | 100.1 | 41° | 93° |
| Auburn | 86,301 | -2.4% | $547,900 | $1,786 | $97,884 | 111.1 | 48° | 77° |
| Pasco | 82,848 | +7.1% | $376,300 | $1,227 | $85,586 | 100.1 | 41° | 93° |
| Redmond | 82,506 | +12.6% | $1,167,800 | $2,409 | $162,560 | 111.1 | 47° | 77° |
| Marysville | 77,686 | +9.9% | $567,900 | $1,997 | $103,974 | 111.1 | 47° | 77° |
Taxes in Washington
Washington does not tax wage income. The state sales tax is 6.5%, and with the average local rate added it comes to 9.57%. Source: Tax Foundation, 2026. Local income taxes are not included.
Top parks and sights in Washington
The Washington parks, museums, landmarks and natural wonders people know best. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Olympic National Park National park
- Mount Rainier National Park National park
- North Cascades National Park National park
- Lake Washington Lake
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge Bridge
- Lake Chelan Lake
- Museum of Pop Culture Museum
- Dry Falls Waterfall
- Columbia River Gorge Canyon
- Seattle Art Museum Museum
Places from Wikidata (CC0), ranked by how many Wikipedia language editions cover them.