Best counties to retire to in Washington
Best counties to retire to in Washington
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Washington based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Washington.
#25. Spokane County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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+)
#24. King County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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+)
#23. Cowlitz County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 111,539
- Median household income: $72,932
- Median home value: $367,400
- Top places to live: Kalama (B-), Woodland (C+), Longview (C)
#22. Skagit County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#21. Clark County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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)
#20. Okanogan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#19. Thurston County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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)
#18. Skamania County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 12,276
- Median household income: $90,085
- Median home value: $472,600
- Top places to live: Stevenson (B-), North Bonneville (C+), Carson (C)
#17. Ferry County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 7,326
- Median household income: $54,650
- Median home value: $274,500
- Top places to live: Republic (C+), Inchelium (C+), Keller (C)
#16. Whatcom County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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. Benton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), 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)
#14. Walla Walla County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), 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)
#13. Pend Oreille County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 13,811
- Median household income: $63,750
- Median home value: $307,800
- Top places to live: Newport (C+), Metaline (B), Ione (B-)
#12. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#11. Grays Harbor County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 76,397
- Median household income: $63,539
- Median home value: $279,500
- Top places to live: Montesano (B-), Cosmopolis (B-), Central Park (B-)
#10. Mason County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 66,968
- Median household income: $78,359
- Median home value: $377,400
- Top places to live: Belfair (C+), Shelton (C), Grapeview (B)
#9. Klickitat County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 23,082
- Median household income: $70,400
- Median home value: $388,700
- Top places to live: White Salmon (A-), Dallesport (C), Goldendale (C)
#8. Kitsap County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#7. Stevens County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#6. Pacific County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 23,750
- Median household income: $62,350
- Median home value: $274,000
- Top places to live: South Bend (B-), Raymond (B-), Ocean Park (C-)
#5. Clallam County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 77,593
- Median household income: $67,999
- Median home value: $385,600
- Top places to live: Forks (B), Sequim (B), Port Angeles (B-)
#4. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 33,313
- Median household income: $71,143
- Median home value: $495,100
- Top places to live: Port Townsend (B+), Marrowstone (B-), Port Ludlow (B-)
#3. Island County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#2. Asotin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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)
#1. San Juan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), 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)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
