The 10 Best Places To Live In Washington For 2025


The best places to live in Washington for 2025 are Mercer Island, Sammamish, and Snoqualmie. Find out where your city or town ranks.

The best places to live in Washington embody the best of everything that makes calling Washington home.

Think Washington State staples like being the home of Starbucks, Grunge music, soaring mountains, and enough rain to make California extremely jealous.

But what makes the best places to live in Washington great are the down-to-earth people and creative, friendly communities. Some cities in the Evergreen State deserve special attention for standing out as truly extraordinary.

To find the best places in Washington state, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze Census, FBI, and Zillow data. After reviewing 121 of the state’s most populous cities, we arrived at this list of places.


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


What’s the best place to live in Washington State? The best place in Washington is Mercer Island for 2025.

Any place mentioned in the top ten would be a great place to call home, although some places are definitely on the pricer side of Seattle. But that’s what you get for your money — a safe, excellent place to live.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In Washington For 2025

Best Places To Live In Washington Map

Mercer Island, WA

Source: Flickr User rutlo | CC BY 2.0
Stat Mercer Island Washington
Population 25,282 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $1,884,200 $519,800
Median Income $202,359 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 2.5% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0121 0.0287

More on Mercer Island: Data

Big congratulations to Mercer Island for holding onto the title of best place to live in Washington for the second year running. Located smack dab in the middle of Lake Washington between Seattle and Bellevue, Mercer Island has a lot going for it. Like the 2nd highest median household income in the state at $202,359/year. And the 11th lowest rate of violent crime in Washington.

People in Mercer Island didn’t wind up so awesome accidentally. The local public school system scored a 9/10 on GreatSchools, so you know the next generation is well-situated to pick up the mantle of excellence Mercer Island has established. And with over 40% of adults having a master’s degree or higher, this early insistence on the importance of education definitely has an impact later in life. One thing to note about Mercer Island though is that the cost of living here is nearly three times as high as the Washington average, so you might want some savings and/or a lucrative job lined up before starting your island life.

Speaking of island life, an extra thing that makes Mercer Island special is the access to awesome beaches. The one at Luther Burbank Park is the most popular, but the west-coast Groveland Beach is the spot to be if you’re hunting gorgeous sunsets.

Sammamish, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Emmanuel BRUNNER | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Sammamish Washington
Population 66,375 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $1,240,300 $519,800
Median Income $227,273 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 2.7% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0066 0.0287

More on Sammamish: Data

Sammamish is no stranger to the Homesnacks spotlight — we’ve already named it the best city for families in Washington for 2025, and a lot of those same factors come into play here. Like having a perfect 10/10 education score on our SnackAbility ratings. And being the place with the 2nd lowest crime rate in the state, with the 4th lowest incidence of violent crime. Or having awesome family-friendly activities around like camping and boating at Lake Sammamish.

Word to the wise though, Sammamish is also the richest place in Washington, so we hope you’re comfortable rubbing elbows with the state’s elite. Homes in Sammamish are the 2nd most expensive in the state at $1,240,300. That’s no biggie for most residents though since Sammamish also has the highest median household income in Washington at $227,273/year. Along with the normal perks of wealth, Sammamish also has the 8th highest rate of health insurance coverage in the state at 97.6%. And it’s not like some people are getting left in the dust here, because Sammamish has a poverty level of just 4.4%, the 12th lowest in the state.

The secret is out on Sammamish and the city’s population has grown by almost 50% since 2010, so be sure to move quickly if you want to get in on the good times.

Snoqualmie, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Max Richards | GFDL
Stat Snoqualmie Washington
Population 13,750 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $919,300 $519,800
Median Income $197,531 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 2.5% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0129 0.0287

More on Snoqualmie: Data

Snoqualmie is a King County city of 13,750 located about 30 miles east of Seattle. If you’re moving here, expect a lot of random visitors, because Snoqualmie Falls draws more than 1.5 million tourists each year. Those visitors are pretty respectful though because even with all the randoms coming and going, Snoqualmie experienced only 2 violent crimes in 2025, the 3rd lowest in the state.

Aside from crime, the economy of Snoqualmie is cause for considerable envy for other Washingtonians. The absurdly teeny poverty level of 0.4% is the lowest in the state. Unemployment is at incredibly low levels and 98.1% of residents have health insurance, the 4th highest rate in Washington. Lastly, Snoqualmie’s median household income of $197,531/year is the 3rd highest statewide.

Normandy Park, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL
Stat Normandy Park Washington
Population 6,659 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $943,500 $519,800
Median Income $144,821 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 1.9% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0162 0.0287

More on Normandy Park: Data

Normandy Park, ranked as the 4th best place to live in Washington for 2025, offers a high quality of life and a range of attractions for residents. Located in King County, Normandy Park is known for its low cost of living and home prices.

Despite its small population of 6,659, Normandy Park boasts a variety of activities and amenities. Residents can enjoy the beautiful beaches and waterfront parks, perfect for picnicking, swimming, or enjoying the scenic views. Additionally, the city’s proximity to Seattle and Tacoma provides easy access to city perks.

Kirkland, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Jelson25 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Kirkland Washington
Population 91,614 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $1,022,500 $519,800
Median Income $143,533 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 4.6% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0218 0.0287

More on Kirkland: Data

Next up is Kirkland, a city of 91,614 located across Lake Washington from Seattle. Parents love Kirkland because it has an average GreatSchools rating of 8/10, with an emphasis on top-rated high schools. Employees love Kirkland because they earn the 16th highest median household income in Washington at $143,533/year. And everyone loves the fact that Kirkland has about a third as much violent crime as your average Washington city. Not to mention that as the 6th most densely populated spot in the state, you’ll never lack for action in Kirkland.

All of these great factors help account for Kirkland’s monumental rise in recent years. It is by far the fastest growing city in Washington, adding a whopping 85% to its ranks since 2010. And with a low unemployment rate of 4.6%, there seems to be plenty of jobs for all newcomers.

Being right on Lake Washington means there Kirkland has some of the most picturesque parks in the state, but we recommend Juanita Bay Park as the top choice.

Lake Forest Park, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Solarbird (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Lake Forest Park Washington
Population 13,356 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $928,700 $519,800
Median Income $158,868 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 3.9% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0217 0.0287

More on Lake Forest Park: Data

We’re sticking around Lake Washington but heading to the north shore to visit the 6th best place in Washington, Lake Forest Park. Here you’ll find the 10th lowest poverty level in the state at 3.6%. Lake Forest Park also has the 38th lowest crime rate in Washington, so safety is hardly an issue.

Just know that to keep up with the Joneses in Lake Forest Park, you’ll want your household to earn at least $158,868/year. Especially with home prices up around $928,700. If you do decide to settle down here, you can get great views from the city’s highest point at Horizon View Park. And if that’s not cutting it, the Space Needle is just 20 minutes down the road.

Brier, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Elwood j blues | CC BY-SA 4.0
Stat Brier Washington
Population 6,507 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 14
Median Home Value $824,500 $519,800
Median Income $138,256 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 4.6% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0049 0.0287

More on Brier: Data

Located about 15 miles north of Seattle, Brier comes in as the 7th best place to call home in Washington. Brier is one of the safest places in Washington, with a crime rate roughly 80% lower than the statewide average.

Brier residents enjoy the 18th highest median household income in Washington at $138,256/year. And with home prices at a relatively reasonable $824,500, the cost of living in Brier only about 25% higher than the Washington average. Not to mention that, with an unemployment rate at 4.6%, the 53rd lowest in the state, you shouldn’t have any trouble locking down a job here.

One thing to note is that, at 45, Brier is the oldest place we’re covering, which can be a positive or a negative depending on your priorities. One definite positive, though, is having easy access to Saint Edward State Park, a popular picnic destination for Seattleites.

Redmond, WA

Source: Public domain
Stat Redmond Washington
Population 75,721 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $1,091,700 $519,800
Median Income $162,099 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 4.1% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0325 0.0287

More on Redmond: Data

We’re sticking around King County for our 8th best city in Washington, Redmond. Known as the home to both Microsoft and Nintendo of America, Redmond has a rock-solid economic base to work with. Which helps explain why Redmond residents earn the 7th highest median household income in Washington, $162,099/year. You kind of need to be earning big bucks to get by here, though, because homes go for around $1,091,700.

Redmond is also the youngest city we’ll be covering, with a median age of 35. These young-uns don’t have to go far to get to work, because at 23 minutes, Redmond also has the shortest commute of cities on this list. And if you’d rather do your part for the environment, Redmond is a highly-bikeable community and has been described as “the bicycle capital of the Northwest.”

Feel free to ride your bike down the Sammamish River Trail and return to a concert at Maymoor Park after you’re done.

Issaquah, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL
Stat Issaquah Washington
Population 39,472 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 10
Median Home Value $934,100 $519,800
Median Income $153,786 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 3.1% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0383 0.0287

More on Issaquah: Data

Issaquah, located in King County within the Seattle metropolitan area, is the 9 best place to live in Washington. Originating as a mining town, it has evolved into a bustling suburb with a population of 39,472. Its economic strength is evident with a 153,786 median income, bolstered by proximity to top employers such as Costco’s headquarters.

The city prides itself on having an 70 percent of adults with higher education degrees. The ease of travel offered by Interstate 90 and various public transit systems confirms Issaquah’s reputation for livability in Washington.

Black Diamond, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL
Stat Black Diamond Washington
Population 5,678 7,740,984
Rank Last Year 15
Median Home Value $776,400 $519,800
Median Income $144,728 $94,952
Unemployment Rate 1.1% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0097 0.0287

More on Black Diamond: Data

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Washington

Best Places To Live In Washington Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Washington, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Olympia, with a population of 55,583, against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This filter left 121 cities, 194 towns, and 169 small towns.

We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Washington have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Washington

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Washington across a number of criteria from one to 121, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Washington.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking Washington’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Washington. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Mercer Island at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In Washington

If you’re looking at areas in Washington with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The best places to live in Washington are Mercer Island, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Normandy Park, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Brier, Redmond, Issaquah, and Black Diamond.

Mercer Island made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Washington for 2025.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Washington according to the data:

  1. Union Gap (Pop. 6,511)
  2. Aberdeen (Pop. 17,040)
  3. Shelton (Pop. 10,619)

For more Washington reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In Washington Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Mercer Island 25,282 2.5% $1,884,200 $202,359 $2,464 0.0121
2 Sammamish 66,375 2.7% $1,240,300 $227,273 $2,728 0.0066
3 Snoqualmie 13,750 2.5% $919,300 $197,531 $3,090 0.0129
4 Normandy Park 6,659 1.9% $943,500 $144,821 $1,781 0.0162
5 Kirkland 91,614 4.6% $1,022,500 $143,533 $2,342 0.0218
6 Lake Forest Park 13,356 3.9% $928,700 $158,868 $2,205 0.0217
7 Brier 6,507 4.6% $824,500 $138,256 $2,727 0.0049
8 Redmond 75,721 4.1% $1,091,700 $162,099 $2,343 0.0325
9 Issaquah 39,472 3.1% $934,100 $153,786 $2,484 0.0383
10 Black Diamond 5,678 1.1% $776,400 $144,728 $2,340 0.0097
11 Kenmore 23,594 3.0% $869,800 $137,926 $1,944 0.0118
12 Camas 26,779 3.6% $656,100 $140,053 $1,900 0.0110
13 Bainbridge Island 24,607 3.2% $1,076,200 $159,882 $2,081 0.0098
14 Mukilteo 21,312 3.1% $830,000 $122,612 $2,127 0.0187
15 Woodinville 13,440 4.3% $1,032,900 $158,723 $2,352 0.0317
16 Newcastle 12,945 5.1% $1,128,200 $162,646 $2,314 0.0266
17 Maple Valley 28,121 4.8% $672,000 $147,546 $2,189 0.0154
18 Edmonds 42,783 4.2% $840,200 $116,095 $1,850 0.0260
19 Bellevue 151,199 4.0% $1,203,100 $161,300 $2,505 0.0364
20 Mill Creek 20,846 4.5% $836,300 $121,578 $2,197 0.0224
21 Bothell 48,610 3.9% $871,300 $132,232 $2,295 0.0186
22 Lake Stevens 39,500 4.8% $593,900 $118,290 $2,189 0.0090
23 Liberty Lake 12,435 3.7% $506,000 $105,599 $1,782 0.0199
24 Anacortes 17,837 3.8% $647,700 $89,788 $1,609 0.0242
25 Shoreline 59,280 4.4% $759,400 $113,336 $1,938 0.0294
26 Bonney Lake 22,776 3.0% $558,900 $131,524 $2,212 0.0220
27 Fircrest 7,082 7.1% $554,600 $107,781 $1,459 0.0229
28 Orting 8,957 4.4% $452,800 $120,994 $2,374 0.0093
29 North Bend 7,745 2.0% $933,700 $180,663 $1,943 0.0387
30 Poulsbo 11,962 3.3% $574,900 $95,774 $1,767 0.0207
31 Enumclaw 12,663 3.7% $498,700 $116,563 $1,672 0.0217
32 Gig Harbor 12,202 2.6% $686,000 $106,042 $2,097 0.0398
33 Seattle 741,440 4.2% $912,100 $121,984 $1,998 0.0589
34 Battle Ground 21,293 4.3% $452,000 $100,185 $1,469 0.0148
35 Covington 20,957 3.6% $590,100 $126,730 $2,220 0.0375
36 Steilacoom 6,683 5.5% $594,600 $97,634 $1,721 0.0147
37 Oak Harbor 24,396 6.2% $421,700 $72,041 $1,629 0.0104
38 Ridgefield 12,576 7.4% $590,200 $117,550 $2,324 0.0148
39 Edgewood 12,683 1.4% $664,000 $114,342 $1,837 0.0305
40 University Place 34,850 4.1% $578,100 $94,952 $1,664 0.0300
41 Lynden 16,025 4.3% $546,400 $94,869 $1,623 0.0163
42 Duvall 8,279 1.7% $758,100 $178,821 $2,602 0.1854
43 Buckley 5,306 3.1% $506,400 $121,719 $1,824 0.0156
44 Marysville 71,570 3.8% $521,500 $100,362 $1,863 0.0221
45 West Richland 17,126 4.6% $404,300 $118,056 $1,577 0.0093
46 College Place 9,828 4.6% $335,000 $59,768 $1,118 0.0172
47 Mountlake Terrace 21,419 4.9% $606,100 $101,404 $1,966 0.0322
48 Stanwood 8,351 3.8% $547,400 $87,477 $1,625 0.0152
49 Tumwater 26,519 5.0% $438,000 $93,635 $1,654 0.0281
50 Monroe 19,696 4.4% $594,300 $107,556 $1,902 0.0282
51 DuPont 9,952 4.9% $550,200 $114,423 $2,230 0.1120
52 East Wenatchee 14,114 5.1% $414,000 $81,050 $1,284 0.0183
53 Sultan 5,770 2.6% $455,500 $85,278 $1,607 0.0076
54 Washougal 16,945 7.8% $492,100 $100,916 $1,592 0.0153
55 Richland 61,912 5.0% $401,800 $92,550 $1,397 0.0291
56 Ferndale 15,447 4.0% $492,400 $83,839 $1,461 0.0199
57 Pullman 31,939 7.5% $401,700 $45,097 $1,010 0.0121
58 Snohomish 10,177 8.1% $599,600 $84,688 $1,459 0.0224
59 Blaine 5,982 7.8% $500,600 $81,559 $1,323 0.0196
60 Selah 8,301 4.6% $366,100 $74,757 $1,465 0.0157
61 Lacey 57,088 5.1% $427,900 $87,277 $1,805 0.0325
62 Port Townsend 10,290 12.8% $502,500 $60,015 $1,151 0.0164
63 Wenatchee 35,502 3.7% $391,200 $70,000 $1,194 0.0284
64 Bellingham 92,367 5.6% $577,400 $65,821 $1,478 0.0461
65 Renton 105,279 4.5% $631,400 $96,626 $1,923 0.0472
66 Ocean Shores 7,076 4.6% $378,000 $62,750 $1,177 0.0081
67 Yelm 10,618 3.8% $439,100 $88,279 $1,363 0.0440
68 Puyallup 42,642 5.3% $507,000 $95,639 $1,750 0.0567
69 Burien 51,331 5.5% $609,300 $90,597 $1,742 0.0419
70 Arlington 20,599 3.6% $492,600 $84,919 $1,764 0.0291
71 Olympia 55,583 6.9% $457,900 $76,930 $1,509 0.0440
72 Lynnwood 40,953 4.6% $635,800 $76,439 $1,675 0.0667
73 Woodland 6,513 0.9% $384,100 $83,193 $1,369 0.0352
74 Des Moines 32,545 7.2% $539,800 $89,787 $1,727 0.0379
75 Mount Vernon 35,312 5.1% $429,300 $73,277 $1,255 0.0228
76 Ellensburg 18,913 7.6% $357,800 $49,888 $1,258 0.0285
77 Pacific 7,064 3.8% $437,400 $102,976 $1,722 0.0269
78 Spokane Valley 105,460 5.9% $344,300 $70,722 $1,247 0.0386
79 Everett 111,083 5.4% $532,300 $81,502 $1,675 0.0457
80 Milton 8,747 5.8% $511,000 $89,804 $1,986 0.0455
81 Ephrata 8,493 5.0% $240,000 $70,321 $993 0.0358
82 Vancouver 192,696 5.6% $440,300 $78,156 $1,632 0.0523
83 Walla Walla 33,766 6.6% $356,600 $65,493 $1,176 0.0271
84 Port Angeles 20,087 6.0% $324,800 $61,640 $1,134 0.0323
85 Longview 37,836 4.8% $339,000 $60,844 $1,119 0.0369
86 Port Orchard 16,398 5.3% $492,000 $81,472 $1,760 0.0407
87 Tacoma 220,482 5.3% $454,600 $83,857 $1,597 0.0869
88 Spokane 229,228 6.0% $326,200 $65,745 $1,141 0.0617
89 Hoquiam 8,792 9.8% $196,400 $51,754 $1,011 0.0200
90 Auburn 85,455 5.3% $510,400 $95,367 $1,713 0.0575
91 Pasco 78,446 5.2% $344,700 $81,130 $1,201 0.0253
92 Kent 135,015 7.3% $537,500 $90,416 $1,833 0.0558
93 Kennewick 84,389 4.9% $343,600 $72,867 $1,199 0.0411
94 Cheney 12,830 12.7% $330,300 $47,039 $1,075 0.0222
95 Sumner 10,674 5.9% $478,500 $98,376 $1,886 0.0526
96 Bremerton 44,531 5.2% $409,500 $74,399 $1,535 0.0319
97 Federal Way 99,232 5.9% $499,600 $82,144 $1,738 0.0588
98 Clarkston 7,240 9.6% $216,900 $53,092 $877 0.0477
99 Connell 5,080 10.2% $247,300 $63,810 $1,138 0.0075
100 Sequim 8,130 10.7% $382,400 $52,977 $1,094 0.0239

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.