Best places to live in Washington
An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Washington using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
#30. Harrison/Denny-Blaine, Washington
- Overall Rank: 1,074
- Population: 3,056
- Median household income: $188,996
- Median home value: $1,439,288 (78% own)
- Median rent: $2,901 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A), Cascadia Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#29. Atlantic, Washington
- Overall Rank: 1,070
- Population: 8,680
- Median household income: $81,971
- Median home value: $755,433 (37% own)
- Median rent: $1,879 (63% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#28. Northeast Bellevue, Washington
- Overall Rank: 1,022
- Population: 19,497
- Median household income: $159,681
- Median home value: $969,300 (46% own)
- Median rent: $2,703 (54% rent)
- Top public schools: International Community School (grade A+), Interlake High School (grade A+), International School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#27. Green Lake, Washington
- Overall Rank: 1,018
- Population: 10,217
- Median household income: $160,744
- Median home value: $934,583 (49% own)
- Median rent: $2,374 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Roosevelt High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#26. Portage Bay, Washington
- Overall Rank: 951
- Population: 1,887
- Median household income: $146,865
- Median home value: $1,769,582 (54% own)
- Median rent: $2,128 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#25. Leschi, Washington
- Overall Rank: 950
- Population: 6,021
- Median household income: $158,334
- Median home value: $1,353,926 (70% own)
- Median rent: $2,304 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A), Cascadia Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#24. Overlake, Washington
- Overall Rank: 838
- Population: 16,339
- Median household income: $180,010
- Median home value: $1,078,163 (50% own)
- Median rent: $2,620 (50% rent)
- Top public schools: International Community School (grade A+), Interlake High School (grade A+), International School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#23. Lower Queen Anne, Washington
- Overall Rank: 828
- Population: 13,537
- Median household income: $104,225
- Median home value: $680,168 (26% own)
- Median rent: $1,947 (74% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#22. Northwest Bellevue, Washington
- Overall Rank: 774
- Population: 24,304
- Median household income: $176,656
- Median home value: $1,422,792 (41% own)
- Median rent: $2,764 (59% rent)
- Top public schools: International Community School (grade A+), International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#21. Woodridge, Washington
- Overall Rank: 773
- Population: 5,006
- Median household income: $150,765
- Median home value: $1,200,493 (67% own)
- Median rent: $2,692 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+), Sammamish High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#20. Wallingford, Washington
- Overall Rank: 760
- Population: 18,567
- Median household income: $151,599
- Median home value: $1,081,252 (46% own)
- Median rent: $2,245 (54% rent)
- Top public schools: Roosevelt High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#19. Ravenna, Washington
- Overall Rank: 755
- Population: 13,028
- Median household income: $150,922
- Median home value: $975,576 (57% own)
- Median rent: $2,345 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Roosevelt High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#18. Madrona, Washington
- Overall Rank: 751
- Population: 4,568
- Median household income: $179,121
- Median home value: $1,322,927 (74% own)
- Median rent: $2,720 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A), Cascadia Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#17. Fremont, Washington
- Overall Rank: 727
- Population: 14,655
- Median household income: $126,402
- Median home value: $931,667 (33% own)
- Median rent: $2,014 (67% rent)
- Top public schools: Roosevelt High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#16. Southeast Redmond, Washington
- Overall Rank: 719
- Population: 7,372
- Median household income: $148,796
- Median home value: $962,178 (17% own)
- Median rent: $2,357 (83% rent)
- Top public schools: Tesla STEM High School (grade A+), International Community School (grade A+), Redmond High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#15. Phinney Ridge, Washington
- Overall Rank: 718
- Population: 10,341
- Median household income: $154,374
- Median home value: $1,053,544 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,960 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Roosevelt High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#14. Factoria, Washington
- Overall Rank: 702
- Population: 4,135
- Median household income: $153,371
- Median home value: $878,759 (69% own)
- Median rent: $2,613 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Newport High School (grade A+), International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+), The Bush School (grade A+)
#13. Minor, Washington
- Overall Rank: 697
- Population: 12,483
- Median household income: $118,195
- Median home value: $897,216 (31% own)
- Median rent: $1,940 (69% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#12. Stevens, Washington
- Overall Rank: 648
- Population: 12,939
- Median household income: $153,143
- Median home value: $1,098,078 (50% own)
- Median rent: $2,125 (50% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#11. North Queen Anne, Washington
- Overall Rank: 646
- Population: 12,659
- Median household income: $149,851
- Median home value: $1,040,925 (49% own)
- Median rent: $2,229 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A), Cascadia Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#10. Broadway/Capitol Hill, Washington
- Overall Rank: 632
- Population: 27,477
- Median household income: $102,674
- Median home value: $757,884 (16% own)
- Median rent: $1,918 (84% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#9. Mann, Washington
- Overall Rank: 567
- Population: 5,140
- Median household income: $124,581
- Median home value: $945,033 (50% own)
- Median rent: $2,105 (50% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#8. Belltown, Washington
- Overall Rank: 429
- Population: 23,214
- Median household income: $150,599
- Median home value: $840,994 (23% own)
- Median rent: $2,359 (77% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#7. Wilburton, Washington
- Overall Rank: 419
- Population: 5,625
- Median household income: $147,361
- Median home value: $1,026,378 (38% own)
- Median rent: $2,637 (62% rent)
- Top public schools: International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+), Ella Baker Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#6. Downtown, Washington
- Overall Rank: 343
- Population: 5,236
- Median household income: $131,855
- Median home value: $985,868 (15% own)
- Median rent: $2,483 (85% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#5. First Hill, Washington
- Overall Rank: 339
- Population: 11,876
- Median household income: $93,476
- Median home value: $706,807 (18% own)
- Median rent: $2,011 (82% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#4. Education Hill, Washington
- Overall Rank: 298
- Population: 19,544
- Median household income: $164,970
- Median home value: $1,012,884 (56% own)
- Median rent: $2,605 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: International Community School (grade A+), Redmond High School (grade A+), Ella Baker Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), The Bush School (grade A+)
#3. West Bellevue, Washington
- Overall Rank: 239
- Population: 17,618
- Median household income: $163,309
- Median home value: $1,300,458 (30% own)
- Median rent: $2,560 (70% rent)
- Top public schools: International School (grade A+), Bellevue High School (grade A+), Islander Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Overlake School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), Seattle Academy (grade A+)
#2. Westlake, Washington
- Overall Rank: 151
- Population: 3,668
- Median household income: $144,121
- Median home value: $365,600 (5% own)
- Median rent: $2,303 (95% rent)
- Top public schools: Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A), Cascadia Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
#1. South Lake Union, Washington
- Overall Rank: 20
- Population: 10,979
- Median household income: $137,090
- Median home value: $630,710 (4% own)
- Median rent: $2,366 (96% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield High School (grade A), Decatur Elementary School (grade A), Northwood Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (grade A+), Eastside Preparatory School (grade A+), UPrep (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
