The 10 Best Small Towns In Washington For 2025


The best small towns in Washington are Clyde Hill and Yarrow Point for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Washington. Best sururbs in Washington. Best counties in Washington.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Evergreen State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Washington based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Washington ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Washington For 2025

  1. Clyde Hill
  2. Yarrow Point
  3. Medina
  4. Woodway
  5. Ames Lake
  6. Walla Walla East
  7. Chico
  8. Clearview
  9. Larch Way
  10. Cavalero
  11. Monroe North
  12. Meadowdale
  13. Duluth
  14. Canterwood
  15. Maple Heights-Lake Desire

Best Small Towns To Live In Washington Map

What’s the best small town in Washington? Clyde Hill is the best small town in Washington based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Clyde Hill, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Evergreen State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Washington For 2025

1. Clyde Hill

Clyde Hill, WA

Source: Flickr User KurtClark | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,104
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%

2. Yarrow Point

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 1,192
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

3. Medina

Medina, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 2,889
Median Income: $249,688 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

4. Woodway

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,174
Median Income: $196,500 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,741,100 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

5. Ames Lake

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,138
Median Income: $157,500 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,069,900 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

6. Walla Walla East

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,264
Median Income: $87,723 (87th Best)
Median Home Value: $580,600 (55th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

7. Chico

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,016
Median Income: $124,700 (39th Best)
Median Home Value: $620,300 (48th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

8. Clearview

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,508
Median Income: $180,208 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $883,300 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%

9. Larch Way

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,046
Median Income: $141,429 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $796,100 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

10. Cavalero

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,850
Median Income: $144,076 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $612,400 (49th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

11. Monroe North

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,069
Median Income: $173,203 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $799,700 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

12. Meadowdale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,948
Median Income: $147,813 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $753,600 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

13. Duluth

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,040
Median Income: $165,071 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $730,900 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

14. Canterwood

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,964
Median Income: $128,676 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $853,500 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%

15. Maple Heights-Lake Desire

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,694
Median Income: $131,042 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $753,300 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Washington

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Washington possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 186 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 186, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Washington. Top of that list — Clyde Hill.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Washington.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Washington are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Washington are Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point, Medina, Woodway, Ames Lake, Walla Walla East, Chico, Clearview, Larch Way, and Cavalero.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Washington:

  1. Lakeview
  2. Peaceful Valley
  3. Cascade Valley

For more Washington reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Washington

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Clyde Hill, WA 3,104 $250,001 3.3%
2 Yarrow Point, WA 1,192 $250,001 1.8%
3 Medina, WA 2,889 $249,688 2.3%
4 Woodway, WA 1,174 $196,500 1.6%
5 Ames Lake, WA 1,138 $157,500 4.1%
6 Walla Walla East, WA 2,264 $87,723 0.0%
7 Chico, WA 3,016 $124,700 1.2%
8 Clearview, WA 3,508 $180,208 0.5%
9 Larch Way, WA 4,046 $141,429 1.6%
10 Cavalero, WA 1,850 $144,076 0.0%
11 Monroe North, WA 2,069 $173,203 2.8%
12 Meadowdale, WA 2,948 $147,813 4.5%
13 Duluth, WA 2,040 $165,071 0.0%
14 Canterwood, WA 2,964 $128,676 3.7%
15 Maple Heights-Lake Desire, WA 3,694 $131,042 0.0%
16 Rosedale, WA 4,267 $149,632 6.0%
17 Fox Island, WA 3,365 $172,917 3.5%
18 Lake Marcel-Stillwater, WA 1,463 $195,063 0.0%
19 Geneva, WA 2,200 $142,612 11.7%
20 Wilderness Rim, WA 1,770 $115,625 3.0%
21 Riverbend, WA 2,150 $153,489 1.3%
22 Carnation, WA 2,476 $141,097 3.9%
23 Sunnyslope, WA 3,674 $131,250 1.3%
24 Fife Heights, WA 1,508 $135,156 5.4%
25 Fall City, WA 1,743 $144,625 4.4%
26 Mirrormont, WA 4,217 $182,283 2.9%
27 Meadow Glade, WA 2,534 $129,167 3.8%
28 Lofall, WA 2,018 $110,951 4.5%
29 Palouse, WA 1,131 $92,875 1.4%
30 Leavenworth, WA 2,676 $74,653 0.4%
31 White Salmon, WA 2,533 $73,406 1.7%
32 Fobes Hill, WA 2,683 $132,250 3.2%
33 Lake Holm, WA 3,664 $119,608 2.2%
34 Big Lake, WA 2,648 $119,000 0.9%
35 Cathcart, WA 1,878 $106,000 1.2%
36 Southworth, WA 2,109 $123,842 3.9%
37 La Center, WA 3,885 $118,629 4.5%
38 Bunk Foss, WA 3,718 $152,208 4.5%
39 Esperance, WA 3,988 $134,866 3.7%
40 Garrett, WA 1,824 $114,194 6.0%
41 Medical Lake, WA 4,927 $74,426 1.4%
42 Granite Falls, WA 4,658 $100,720 0.7%
43 Chain Lake, WA 4,989 $148,932 3.9%
44 High Bridge, WA 3,147 $160,938 2.2%
45 Fern Prairie, WA 2,132 $110,476 3.6%
46 Moxee, WA 4,545 $97,194 0.8%
47 Allyn, WA 2,656 $107,823 7.7%
48 Three Lakes, WA 3,466 $148,625 1.8%
49 Burley, WA 2,516 $96,897 1.3%
50 Stansberry Lake, WA 1,574 $95,250 5.2%
51 Bryant, WA 2,375 $119,371 0.0%
52 Lake Cassidy, WA 3,337 $115,417 1.0%
53 Shadow Lake, WA 2,221 $137,407 4.0%
54 Kingston, WA 2,585 $99,345 2.4%
55 Stevenson, WA 1,676 $77,841 3.2%
56 Marietta-Alderwood, WA 3,569 $62,243 2.1%
57 Langley, WA 1,090 $74,067 4.3%
58 Prairie Heights, WA 4,817 $129,438 5.4%
59 Lake Ketchum, WA 1,088 $132,716 0.0%
60 Friday Harbor, WA 2,685 $69,954 2.7%
61 Coupeville, WA 1,934 $66,696 2.3%
62 Central Park, WA 3,203 $97,273 2.2%
63 West Pasco, WA 1,157 $129,224 5.2%
64 Cashmere, WA 3,263 $63,825 0.5%
65 Machias, WA 1,112 $127,043 7.6%
66 Kayak Point, WA 1,660 $113,611 4.3%
67 Montesano, WA 4,157 $65,938 3.9%
68 Brush Prairie, WA 2,563 $115,511 7.2%
69 Everson, WA 2,989 $82,750 2.0%
70 Wauna, WA 4,831 $108,000 3.8%
71 Mcmillin, WA 1,298 $107,305 5.6%
72 Summitview, WA 2,031 $102,830 1.2%
73 Asotin, WA 1,039 $88,750 4.0%
74 Manson, WA 1,595 $74,750 3.2%
75 North Puyallup, WA 1,363 $81,063 4.2%
76 Venersborg, WA 4,827 $126,667 7.2%
77 Ilwaco, WA 1,418 $97,541 0.0%
78 Warm Beach, WA 3,333 $96,413 1.4%
79 Point Roberts, WA 1,275 $80,197 2.3%
80 Rocky Point, WA 1,648 $83,456 6.4%
81 Sunday Lake, WA 1,209 $110,491 9.9%
82 Easton, WA 1,046 $115,836 7.5%
83 Clinton, WA 1,367 $72,135 4.1%
84 Enetai, WA 2,135 $71,492 9.4%
85 Desert Aire, WA 2,953 $83,482 0.7%
86 Hansville, WA 3,533 $85,800 6.5%
87 Chelan, WA 4,314 $71,996 0.8%
88 Sisco Heights, WA 2,942 $119,871 7.1%
89 Yacolt, WA 1,628 $90,625 1.4%
90 Lewisville, WA 2,372 $125,179 4.5%
91 Navy Yard City, WA 2,542 $67,546 1.4%
92 Millwood, WA 1,880 $71,875 0.8%
93 Port Ludlow, WA 2,979 $92,245 5.6%
94 Nooksack, WA 1,547 $85,781 4.4%
95 Okanogan, WA 2,477 $73,273 3.8%
96 Port Angeles East, WA 3,035 $66,563 3.2%
97 Anderson Island, WA 1,341 $72,074 0.0%
98 Indianola, WA 3,517 $95,469 4.8%
99 Zillah, WA 3,163 $72,461 2.9%
100 Davenport, WA 1,819 $74,764 5.8%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings