Washington is great for many reasons, especially for people looking to retire in the Northwest.
And the secret is out.
Washington’s population of 65 and older residents is currently at 12%, which experts expect to increase dramatically.
We’ve taken the guessing out of the equation and created a list of the best places to retire in Washington for 2024.
First, we looked at the latest FBI and Census data for 89 cities with 10,000 residents. Once we identified these cities, we compared important factors like safety, affordability, rent, and how close a place is to an international airport.
The state as a whole is pretty safe, and there’s a ton of great stuff to do. If you love hiking, there’s Colville National Forest just north of Spokane. And if you love fresh fish, check out Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Washington For 2024
What’s the best place to retire in Washington? According to the latest FBI and Census data, the best place to retire in Washington is Port Townsend.
Many places in Washington get close to 40 inches of rain a year. So, what do 7.5 million residents and 825,000 retirees find so appealing about this corner of the country? The people here are very nice, and every place in the state is postcard-worthy.
Why did Port Townsend take the top spot? And where are Seattle and Spokane?
For more Washington state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Washington
- Cheapest Places To Live In Washington
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Washington
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Washington For 2024
/10
Population: 10,161
Median Income: $59,193
Median Home Price: $616,806
Median Rent: $1,111
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Port Townsend: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 26,387
Median Income: $133,829
Median Home Price: $713,685
Median Rent: $1,798
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Camas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,848
Median Income: $45,419
Median Home Price: $410,663
Median Rent: $1,020
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Cheney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 227,922
Median Income: $63,316
Median Home Price: $374,653
Median Rent: $1,060
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Spokane: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,007
Median Income: $60,212
Median Home Price: $428,897
Median Rent: $1,118
Distance to Closest Airport: 29 miles
More on Port Angeles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,828
Median Income: $97,295
Median Home Price: $584,262
Median Rent: $1,397
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Washougal: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,611
Median Income: $132,191
Median Home Price: $940,684
Median Rent: $1,850
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Kenmore: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,667
Median Income: $86,911
Median Home Price: $694,105
Median Rent: $1,526
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Anacortes: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 70,847
Median Income: $98,288
Median Home Price: $570,905
Median Rent: $1,763
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Marysville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,681
Median Income: $151,290
Median Home Price: $1,164,814
Median Rent: $1,965
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Bainbridge Island: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Evergreen State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Washington to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Evergreen State — 617 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 89 places from across the state.
For these 89, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 89, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Port Townsend, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Washington.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Washington Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Washington goes to Port Townsend.
The best places to retire in Washington are Port Townsend, Camas, Cheney, Spokane, Port Angeles, Washougal, Kenmore, Anacortes, Marysville, and Bainbridge Island.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Fife
- Port Orchard
- Shelton
For more Washington reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Washington
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Townsend | 10,161 | $59,193 | $616,806 | $1,111 |
| 2 | Camas | 26,387 | $133,829 | $713,685 | $1,798 |
| 3 | Cheney | 12,848 | $45,419 | $410,663 | $1,020 |
| 4 | Spokane | 227,922 | $63,316 | $374,653 | $1,060 |
| 5 | Port Angeles | 20,007 | $60,212 | $428,897 | $1,118 |
| 6 | Washougal | 16,828 | $97,295 | $584,262 | $1,397 |
| 7 | Kenmore | 23,611 | $132,191 | $940,684 | $1,850 |
| 8 | Anacortes | 17,667 | $86,911 | $694,105 | $1,526 |
| 9 | Marysville | 70,847 | $98,288 | $570,905 | $1,763 |
| 10 | Bainbridge Island | 24,681 | $151,290 | $1,164,814 | $1,965 |