Random Best Places In Washington To Live (25 items)

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  (#22) Walla Walla

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 31,910

  Median income: $44,650

  Median home price: $197,061

  Pros: Located near the Washington-Oregon border on fertile valley land, Walla Walla has risen in prominence throughout the 21st century as a premier producer of wines, and a numer of local wineries have scored top marks from internationally respected wine publications. Walla Walla is also known for its annual Sweet Onion Festival. 

  Cons: The high school graduation rate is 8 percent lower than the Washington average and slightly lower than the national average. Crime rates are 14 percent higher than the rest of the state, and household income is 33 percent lower than Washington state on average.
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  (#20) Richland

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 53,019

  Median income: $71,387

  Median home price: $233,587

  Pros: Nicknamed Atomic City as the former home of one of the Manhattan Project sites, Richland consistently ranks highly in many of the most desirable traits for cities, with high property values, low cost of living, high-quality education, and low crime rates when compared with the rest of the state and the nation.

  Cons: Get ready for climate whiplash. Located near the Washington-Oregon border in the center of the state, Richland experiences wild swings in temperature from season to season, with 100-degree heat in the summer and and snowy, single-digit temperatures in the winter.
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  (#3) Spokane

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 215,964

  Median income: $45,676

  Median home price: $170,900

  Pros: A theater district to be proud of, a revitalized downtown, and a commitment to the arts that shows in its many museums, Spokane has attempted admirably to respond to the downturn in the manufacturing industry by pivoting to a more service- and tourism-oriented economy. It has been mostly successful, but not without some growing pains.

  Cons: Crime has proven to be a serious problem in Spokane, with rates more than double the state average and almost triple the national average. Household income and property values also remain depressed, with both well below the state averages.
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  (#10) Spokane Valley

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 96,337

  Median income: $53,043

  Median home price: $201,300

  Pros: A remote but populous city near the eastern border of Washington, Spokane Valley has established itself as one of the cultural centers of the eastern portion of the state. It is home to the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, a minor league baseball team, and the annual Valleyfest.

  Cons: The crime rate is high, and household income and property values are low, particularly when compared against the rest of the state. 
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  (#23) Yakima

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 93,974

  Median income: $41,454

  Median home price: $162,100

  Pros: Set in the valley about 60 miles south of Mount Rainier, Yakima is among the most productive and fertile agricultural regions in the state, at one point producing more than three-quarters of all hops grown in the U.S. The city has shown a dedication to history and culture with the Yakima Valley Museum, an annual jazz festival, and the Yakima Area Arboretum.

  Cons: Crime rates are nearly 50 percent above the state average, while average household income is 35 percent below the rest of the state. The high school graduation rate is also a dismal 68 percent, 22 percent below the Washington average.
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  (#1) Vancouver

  • Washington, USA

  Population: 174,836

  Median income: $56,615

  Median home price: $265,700

  Pros: Vancouver began a major revitalization project in the late 1990s in an attempt to spruce up its downtown area and bring in investments and visitors. Among the major parts of the project are The Luxe, Library Square, and Prestige Plaza.

  Cons: While on a state level Vancouver's crime rate is actually lower than the Washington average, it still runs 26 percent higher than the natinoal average. Household income is also low for Washington, and property values are 19 percent lower than the rest of the state.

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