Washington is great for many reasons, especially for people looking to retire in the Northwest.
And the secret is out.
Washington’s population of 65 and older residents is currently at 12%, which experts expect to increase dramatically.
We’ve taken the guessing out of the equation and created a list of the best places to retire in Washington for 2025.
First, we looked at the latest FBI and Census data for 88 cities with 10,000 residents. Once we identified these cities, we compared important factors like safety, affordability, rent, and how close a place is to an international airport.
The state as a whole is pretty safe, and there’s a ton of great stuff to do. If you love hiking, there’s Colville National Forest just north of Spokane. And if you love fresh fish, check out Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Washington For 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Washington? According to the latest FBI and Census data, the best place to retire in Washington is Port Townsend.
Many places in Washington get close to 40 inches of rain a year. So, what do 7.5 million residents and 825,000 retirees find so appealing about this corner of the country? The people here are very nice, and every place in the state is postcard-worthy.
Why did Port Townsend take the top spot? And where are Seattle and Spokane?
For more Washington state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Washington
- Cheapest Places To Live In Washington
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Washington
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Washington For 2025
/10
Population: 10,290
Median Income: $60,015
Median Home Price: $502,500
Median Rent: $1,151
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Port Townsend: Data
/10
Population: 26,779
Median Income: $140,053
Median Home Price: $656,100
Median Rent: $1,900
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Camas: Data
/10
Population: 17,837
Median Income: $89,788
Median Home Price: $647,700
Median Rent: $1,609
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Anacortes: Data
/10
Population: 20,087
Median Income: $61,640
Median Home Price: $324,800
Median Rent: $1,134
Distance to Closest Airport: 29 miles
More on Port Angeles: Data
/10
Population: 12,697
Median Income: $59,462
Median Home Price: $302,300
Median Rent: $1,131
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Kelso: Data
/10
Population: 16,945
Median Income: $100,916
Median Home Price: $492,100
Median Rent: $1,592
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Washougal: Data
/10
Population: 229,228
Median Income: $65,745
Median Home Price: $326,200
Median Rent: $1,141
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Spokane: Data
/10
Population: 23,594
Median Income: $137,926
Median Home Price: $869,800
Median Rent: $1,944
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Kenmore: Data
/10
Population: 12,830
Median Income: $47,039
Median Home Price: $330,300
Median Rent: $1,075
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Cheney: Data
/10
Population: 24,607
Median Income: $159,882
Median Home Price: $1,076,200
Median Rent: $2,081
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Bainbridge Island: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Evergreen State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Washington to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Evergreen State — 617 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 88 places from across the state.
For these 88, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 88, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Port Townsend, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Washington.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Washington Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Washington goes to Port Townsend.
The best places to retire in Washington are Port Townsend, Camas, Anacortes, Port Angeles, Kelso, Washougal, Spokane, Kenmore, Cheney, and Bainbridge Island.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Fife
- Port Orchard
- Redmond
For more Washington reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Washington
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Townsend | 10,290 | $60,015 | $502,500 | $1,151 |
| 2 | Camas | 26,779 | $140,053 | $656,100 | $1,900 |
| 3 | Anacortes | 17,837 | $89,788 | $647,700 | $1,609 |
| 4 | Port Angeles | 20,087 | $61,640 | $324,800 | $1,134 |
| 5 | Kelso | 12,697 | $59,462 | $302,300 | $1,131 |
| 6 | Washougal | 16,945 | $100,916 | $492,100 | $1,592 |
| 7 | Spokane | 229,228 | $65,745 | $326,200 | $1,141 |
| 8 | Kenmore | 23,594 | $137,926 | $869,800 | $1,944 |
| 9 | Cheney | 12,830 | $47,039 | $330,300 | $1,075 |
| 10 | Bainbridge Island | 24,607 | $159,882 | $1,076,200 | $2,081 |