Ilyaunfois // Wikimedia Commons
Best counties to live in Washington
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Washington using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Nick Kelly / Faithlife Corporation
#13. Whatcom County
- Population: 220,821
- Median home value: $345,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,060 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $62,984
- Top public schools: Sehome High School (A), Bellingham High School (A), Squalicum High School (A)
- Top private schools: The Franklin Academy (A), Lynden Christian School (B+), Assumption Catholic School (A)
- Top places to live: Bellingham (A), Sudden Valley (A), Blaine (B+)
- Median home value: $345,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,060 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $62,984
- Top public schools: Sehome High School (A), Bellingham High School (A), Squalicum High School (A)
- Top private schools: The Franklin Academy (A), Lynden Christian School (B+), Assumption Catholic School (A)
- Top places to live: Bellingham (A), Sudden Valley (A), Blaine (B+)
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SounderBruce // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Snohomish County
- Population: 798,808
- Median home value: $403,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,438 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $86,691
- Top public schools: Woodinville High School (A+), Sunrise Elementary School (A+), Shelton View Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Archbishop Murphy High School (A), Cedar Park Christian School - Mountlake Terrace Campus (A), Grace Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Woodway (A), Brier (A), Mukilteo (A)
- Median home value: $403,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,438 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $86,691
- Top public schools: Woodinville High School (A+), Sunrise Elementary School (A+), Shelton View Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Archbishop Murphy High School (A), Cedar Park Christian School - Mountlake Terrace Campus (A), Grace Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Woodway (A), Brier (A), Mukilteo (A)
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Steve Morgan // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Clark County
- Population: 473,252
- Median home value: $327,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,261 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $75,253
- Top public schools: Skyridge Middle School (A), Camas High School (A), Dorothy Fox Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School (A), Cedar Tree Christian Classical School (A), Kings Way Christian Schools (B+)
- Top places to live: Camas (A), Fisher's Creek (A), Fisher's Landing East (A)
- Median home value: $327,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,261 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $75,253
- Top public schools: Skyridge Middle School (A), Camas High School (A), Dorothy Fox Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School (A), Cedar Tree Christian Classical School (A), Kings Way Christian Schools (B+)
- Top places to live: Camas (A), Fisher's Creek (A), Fisher's Landing East (A)
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Adbar // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Jefferson County
- Population: 31,285
- Median home value: $338,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $932 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $55,127
- Top public schools: Grant Street Elementary School (A), Port Townsend High School (B+), Blue Heron Middle School (B)
- Top private schools: Jefferson Community School (A), Sunfield School (unavailable), Swan School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Port Townsend (A), Marrowstone (B+), Quilcene (B)
- Median home value: $338,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $932 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $55,127
- Top public schools: Grant Street Elementary School (A), Port Townsend High School (B+), Blue Heron Middle School (B)
- Top private schools: Jefferson Community School (A), Sunfield School (unavailable), Swan School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Port Townsend (A), Marrowstone (B+), Quilcene (B)
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Joe Mabel // Wikicommons
#9. Thurston County
- Population: 279,711
- Median home value: $287,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $72,003
- Top public schools: Olympia High School (A), Jefferson Middle School (A), Centennial Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Pope John Paul II High School (A), Northwest Christian High School (B+), Evergreen Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Olympia (A), Tumwater (A), Lacey (B+)
- Median home value: $287,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $72,003
- Top public schools: Olympia High School (A), Jefferson Middle School (A), Centennial Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Pope John Paul II High School (A), Northwest Christian High School (B+), Evergreen Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Olympia (A), Tumwater (A), Lacey (B+)
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Ron Reiring // Wikicommons
#8. Spokane County
- Population: 505,505
- Median home value: $224,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $913 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $56,904
- Top public schools: Lewis & Clark High School (A), Libby Center (A), North Central High School (A)
- Top private schools: St. George's School (A+), Gonzaga Preparatory School (A), The Oaks Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Liberty Lake (A), Country Homes (B+), Spokane (B+)
- Median home value: $224,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $913 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $56,904
- Top public schools: Lewis & Clark High School (A), Libby Center (A), North Central High School (A)
- Top private schools: St. George's School (A+), Gonzaga Preparatory School (A), The Oaks Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Liberty Lake (A), Country Homes (B+), Spokane (B+)
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Joe Mabel // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Island County
- Population: 82,866
- Median home value: $358,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $68,604
- Top public schools: Broadview Elementary School (A), Coupeville Elementary School (A), Hillcrest Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Whidbey Island Waldorf School (unavailable), Oak Harbor Christian School (unavailable), Der Kinderhuis Montessori School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Oak Harbor (B), Camano (B), Coupeville (A)
- Median home value: $358,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $68,604
- Top public schools: Broadview Elementary School (A), Coupeville Elementary School (A), Hillcrest Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Whidbey Island Waldorf School (unavailable), Oak Harbor Christian School (unavailable), Der Kinderhuis Montessori School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Oak Harbor (B), Camano (B), Coupeville (A)
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Squarestate7 // Wikicommons
#6. Walla Walla County
- Population: 60,365
- Median home value: $224,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $926 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $57,858
- Top public schools: Walla Walla High School (B+), College Place High School (B), Prospect Point Elementary School (B)
- Top private schools: DeSales Catholic High School (A), Walla Walla Valley Academy (B+), Rogers Adventist School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: College Place (B+), Walla Walla (B+), Garrett (B)
- Median home value: $224,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $926 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $57,858
- Top public schools: Walla Walla High School (B+), College Place High School (B), Prospect Point Elementary School (B)
- Top private schools: DeSales Catholic High School (A), Walla Walla Valley Academy (B+), Rogers Adventist School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: College Place (B+), Walla Walla (B+), Garrett (B)
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formulanone // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Benton County
- Population: 197,518
- Median home value: $235,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $974 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $69,023
- Top public schools: Hanford High School (A), White Bluffs Elementary School (A), Orchard Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Liberty Christian School of the Tri-Cities (B), Christ the King School (unavailable), Bethlehem Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Richland (A), West Richland (A), Kennewick (B+)
- Median home value: $235,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $974 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $69,023
- Top public schools: Hanford High School (A), White Bluffs Elementary School (A), Orchard Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Liberty Christian School of the Tri-Cities (B), Christ the King School (unavailable), Bethlehem Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Richland (A), West Richland (A), Kennewick (B+)
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Dcoetzee // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Kitsap County
- Population: 265,882
- Median home value: $329,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,249 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $75,411
- Top public schools: Bainbridge High School (A+), Capt. Johnston Blakely Elementary School (A+), Capt. Charles Wilkes Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: West Sound Academy (A), Crosspoint (A), Peace Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bainbridge Island (A), Silverdale (A), Lofall (B+)
- Median home value: $329,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,249 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $75,411
- Top public schools: Bainbridge High School (A+), Capt. Johnston Blakely Elementary School (A+), Capt. Charles Wilkes Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: West Sound Academy (A), Crosspoint (A), Peace Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bainbridge Island (A), Silverdale (A), Lofall (B+)
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Jelson25 // Wikimedia Commons
#3. San Juan County
- Population: 16,788
- Median home value: $488,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,000 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $63,622
- Top public schools: Orcas Island High School (A), Friday Harbor High School (A), Friday Harbor Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Spring Street International School (A), Orcas Christian School (unavailable), Salmonberry School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Friday Harbor (A)
- Median home value: $488,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,000 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $63,622
- Top public schools: Orcas Island High School (A), Friday Harbor High School (A), Friday Harbor Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Spring Street International School (A), Orcas Christian School (unavailable), Salmonberry School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Friday Harbor (A)
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Ilyaunfois // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Whitman County
- Population: 49,231
- Median home value: $217,600 (44% own)
- Median rent: $814 (56% rent)
- Median household income: $42,745
- Top public schools: Franklin Elementary School (A), Pullman High School (A), St. John Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Pullman Christian School (B), Montessori School of Pullman (unavailable), Guardian Angel-St. Boniface School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pullman (A), Colfax (A), Palouse (A)
- Median home value: $217,600 (44% own)
- Median rent: $814 (56% rent)
- Median household income: $42,745
- Top public schools: Franklin Elementary School (A), Pullman High School (A), St. John Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Pullman Christian School (B), Montessori School of Pullman (unavailable), Guardian Angel-St. Boniface School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pullman (A), Colfax (A), Palouse (A)
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kan_khampanya // Shutterstock
#1. King County
- Population: 2,195,502
- Median home value: $549,200 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,606 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $94,974
- Top public schools: Tesla STEM High School (A+), International Community School (A+), Interlake Senior High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (A+), The Overlake School (A+), Eastside Preparatory School (A+)
- Top places to live: Sammamish Valley (A+), Wilburton (A+), North Redmond (A+)
- Median home value: $549,200 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,606 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $94,974
- Top public schools: Tesla STEM High School (A+), International Community School (A+), Interlake Senior High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Lakeside School (A+), The Overlake School (A+), Eastside Preparatory School (A+)
- Top places to live: Sammamish Valley (A+), Wilburton (A+), North Redmond (A+)
