Best counties to raise a family in Washington
Best counties to raise a family in Washington
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Washington using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Skagit County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (D), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 130,407
- Median household income: $85,474
- Median home value: $486,200
- Top places to live: Anacortes (B+), La Conner (B-), Mount Vernon (C+)
#24. Adams County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C-), cost of living (C), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 20,690
- Median household income: $65,042
- Median home value: $251,300
- Top places to live: Othello (C+), Washtucna (B), Ritzville (B)
#23. Stevens County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 47,470
- Median household income: $67,405
- Median home value: $308,000
- Top places to live: Colville (B-), Northport (B-), Chewelah (B-)
#22. Kittitas County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 44,736
- Median household income: $69,928
- Median home value: $459,900
- Top places to live: Ellensburg (B), Cle Elum (C), Kittitas (B-)
#21. Yakima County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 256,605
- Median household income: $68,015
- Median home value: $281,100
- Top places to live: Terrace Heights (B), Zillah (B), Summitview (B)
#20. Grant County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C), cost of living (C), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 100,428
- Median household income: $71,115
- Median home value: $275,700
- Top places to live: Ephrata (B), Moses Lake (B-), Quincy (C+)
#19. Douglas County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 43,733
- Median household income: $80,374
- Median home value: $402,900
- Top places to live: East Wenatchee (B), Rock Island (C+), Mansfield (B)
#18. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 11,271
- Median household income: $71,227
- Median home value: $272,300
- Top places to live: Davenport (B+), Almira (B), Reardan (B-)
#17. Franklin County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 97,676
- Median household income: $82,755
- Median home value: $345,700
- Top places to live: West Pasco (B), Pasco (B-), Connell (B-)
#16. Whatcom County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (D), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 228,432
- Median household income: $80,989
- Median home value: $536,100
- Top places to live: Geneva (A), Sudden Valley (A-), Bellingham (A-)
#15. Okanogan County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 42,811
- Median household income: $60,293
- Median home value: $284,200
- Top places to live: Omak (B), Okanogan (B), Coulee Dam (B+)
#14. Asotin County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A-), cost of living (C), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 22,424
- Median household income: $69,107
- Median home value: $286,200
- Top places to live: Asotin (B+), Clarkston (B)
#13. Island County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (D), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 86,747
- Median household income: $88,358
- Median home value: $535,300
- Top places to live: Oak Harbor (B), Camano (C+), Coupeville (B+)
#12. Pierce County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (D), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 924,106
- Median household income: $96,632
- Median home value: $484,400
- Top places to live: North End (A), DuPont (A-), Artondale (A-)
#11. Spokane County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 544,323
- Median household income: $73,513
- Median home value: $370,500
- Top places to live: Fairwood (B+), Liberty Lake (B+), Medical Lake (B+)
#10. Walla Walla County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 62,102
- Median household income: $72,212
- Median home value: $375,600
- Top places to live: College Place (B), Garrett (B), Walla Walla (B)
#9. San Juan County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 18,266
- Median household income: $83,682
- Median home value: $726,500
- Top places to live: Friday Harbor (B)
#8. Thurston County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (D+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 296,640
- Median household income: $93,985
- Median home value: $451,500
- Top places to live: Tumwater (B+), Olympia (B+), Lacey (B)
#7. Benton County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 210,224
- Median household income: $87,316
- Median home value: $369,400
- Top places to live: West Richland (A-), Richland (A-), Kennewick (B)
#6. Snohomish County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (D), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 834,648
- Median household income: $107,982
- Median home value: $644,600
- Top places to live: Woodway (A), Mukilteo (A), Edmonds (A)
#5. Chelan County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 79,518
- Median household income: $78,306
- Median home value: $454,900
- Top places to live: Leavenworth (A-), Sunnyslope (B+), Cashmere (B)
#4. Clark County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (D+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 510,516
- Median household income: $94,948
- Median home value: $487,900
- Top places to live: Fisher's Creek (A), Camas (A), Fisher's Landing East (A)
#3. Kitsap County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 276,581
- Median household income: $98,546
- Median home value: $505,700
- Top places to live: Bainbridge Island (A), Poulsbo (A-), Lofall (B+)
#2. Whitman County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (C-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 47,042
- Median household income: $52,893
- Median home value: $323,300
- Top places to live: Pullman (A), Colfax (A-), Palouse (A+)
#1. King County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (D), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 2,262,713
- Median household income: $122,148
- Median home value: $811,200
- Top places to live: South Lake Union (A+), Westlake (A+), Belltown (A+)
