The 10 Best Small Towns In Washington For 2024


The best small towns in Washington are Clyde Hill and Yarrow Point for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Washington. Best sururbs in Washington. Best counties in Washington.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Evergreen State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Washington based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Washington ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Washington For 2024

  1. Clyde Hill
  2. Yarrow Point
  3. Medina
  4. Woodway
  5. Ames Lake
  6. Carnation
  7. Clearview
  8. Cavalero
  9. Canterwood
  10. Riverbend
  11. Meadowdale
  12. Lake Marcel-Stillwater
  13. Wilderness Rim
  14. Monroe North
  15. Walla Walla East

Best Small Towns To Live In Washington Map

What’s the best small town in Washington? Clyde Hill is the best small town in Washington based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Clyde Hill, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Evergreen State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Washington For 2024

1. Clyde Hill

Clyde Hill, WA

Source: Flickr User KurtClark | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,108
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $3,898,869 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

2. Yarrow Point

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 1,280
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $4,187,167 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

3. Medina

Medina, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 2,923
Median Income: $244,740 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $4,292,352 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

4. Woodway

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,118
Median Income: $204,167 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,132,275 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

5. Ames Lake

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,108
Median Income: $143,523 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,187,235 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%

6. Carnation

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,515
Median Income: $134,850 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $915,886 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

7. Clearview

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,763
Median Income: $174,051 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $947,843 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

8. Cavalero

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,457
Median Income: $138,693 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $664,390 (56th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

9. Canterwood

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,991
Median Income: $123,167 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $891,897 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

10. Riverbend

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,041
Median Income: $145,764 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $757,914 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

11. Meadowdale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,995
Median Income: $139,167 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $804,376 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%

12. Lake Marcel-Stillwater

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,396
Median Income: $142,396 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $784,447 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

13. Wilderness Rim

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,872
Median Income: $110,000 (49th Best)
Median Home Value: $715,534 (45th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

14. Monroe North

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,880
Median Income: $165,234 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $894,658 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

15. Walla Walla East

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,826
Median Income: $79,336 (105th Best)
Median Home Value: $566,785 (77th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Washington

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Washington possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 194 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 194, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Washington. Top of that list — Clyde Hill.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Washington.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Washington are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Washington are Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point, Medina, Woodway, Ames Lake, Carnation, Clearview, Cavalero, Canterwood, and Riverbend.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Washington:

  1. Peaceful Valley
  2. Mattawa
  3. Cascade Valley

For more Washington reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Washington

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Clyde Hill, WA 3,108 $250,001 3.2%
2 Yarrow Point, WA 1,280 $250,001 2.1%
3 Medina, WA 2,923 $244,740 2.2%
4 Woodway, WA 1,118 $204,167 1.2%
5 Ames Lake, WA 1,108 $143,523 4.3%
6 Carnation, WA 2,515 $134,850 3.4%
7 Clearview, WA 3,763 $174,051 2.1%
8 Cavalero, WA 1,457 $138,693 0.0%
9 Canterwood, WA 2,991 $123,167 4.0%
10 Riverbend, WA 2,041 $145,764 1.6%
11 Meadowdale, WA 2,995 $139,167 4.7%
12 Lake Marcel-Stillwater, WA 1,396 $142,396 0.0%
13 Wilderness Rim, WA 1,872 $110,000 3.0%
14 Monroe North, WA 1,880 $165,234 0.0%
15 Walla Walla East, WA 1,826 $79,336 0.0%
16 Fife Heights, WA 1,573 $128,788 4.0%
17 Fox Island, WA 3,644 $157,566 4.6%
18 Chico, WA 3,076 $126,904 3.7%
19 Lake Holm, WA 3,653 $119,568 0.9%
20 Geneva, WA 2,096 $102,386 11.1%
21 Lofall, WA 2,038 $110,250 3.4%
22 Meadow Glade, WA 2,390 $126,447 4.4%
23 Mirrormont, WA 4,102 $164,000 3.5%
24 Maple Heights-Lake Desire, WA 3,436 $124,400 1.0%
25 Larch Way, WA 4,399 $124,545 1.0%
26 Fall City, WA 2,018 $122,716 3.2%
27 White Salmon, WA 2,505 $72,692 1.1%
28 Rosedale, WA 4,273 $141,490 7.9%
29 Fobes Hill, WA 2,957 $127,409 4.2%
30 High Bridge, WA 2,871 $162,560 3.3%
31 Leavenworth, WA 2,619 $66,042 0.3%
32 Cathcart, WA 2,105 $121,856 1.0%
33 Esperance, WA 4,268 $123,309 3.0%
34 Sunnyslope, WA 3,553 $124,076 1.3%
35 Bunk Foss, WA 3,639 $145,647 6.2%
36 Duluth, WA 1,725 $81,694 0.0%
37 Moxee, WA 4,411 $104,205 1.3%
38 Big Lake, WA 2,267 $108,654 2.1%
39 Garrett, WA 1,873 $108,094 7.3%
40 Browns Point, WA 1,097 $97,917 5.4%
41 Bryant, WA 2,486 $114,694 0.0%
42 Venersborg, WA 4,212 $126,642 5.1%
43 Prairie Heights, WA 4,845 $129,946 4.0%
44 Coupeville, WA 2,040 $78,438 1.2%
45 La Center, WA 3,685 $112,758 4.2%
46 Langley, WA 1,076 $72,379 2.8%
47 Hansville, WA 3,246 $97,331 0.9%
48 Southworth, WA 1,953 $125,446 5.6%
49 Medical Lake, WA 4,909 $73,456 4.5%
50 Kingston, WA 2,999 $96,645 4.6%
51 Grapeview, WA 1,128 $108,539 0.0%
52 Friday Harbor, WA 2,647 $62,300 2.7%
53 Central Park, WA 3,416 $96,170 0.7%
54 Brush Prairie, WA 2,623 $106,719 3.9%
55 Three Lakes, WA 3,571 $144,444 2.0%
56 Allyn, WA 2,249 $106,083 8.6%
57 Kayak Point, WA 1,661 $118,105 4.6%
58 Burley, WA 2,808 $94,222 0.0%
59 Stevenson, WA 1,697 $84,000 2.7%
60 Asotin, WA 1,192 $93,548 3.7%
61 Stansberry Lake, WA 1,810 $121,029 6.3%
62 Fern Prairie, WA 1,946 $112,888 4.0%
63 Lake Roesiger, WA 1,051 $111,616 0.0%
64 Granite Falls, WA 4,567 $87,600 1.0%
65 Mcmillin, WA 1,194 $102,586 4.0%
66 Machias, WA 1,260 $121,319 8.4%
67 La Conner, WA 1,000 $72,981 0.4%
68 Wauna, WA 4,689 $100,329 4.7%
69 Shadow Lake, WA 2,115 $104,286 7.2%
70 Everson, WA 2,960 $76,645 2.6%
71 Cashmere, WA 3,244 $60,597 1.1%
72 Marietta-Alderwood, WA 3,304 $83,507 4.3%
73 Desert Aire, WA 2,714 $81,893 0.0%
74 Summitview, WA 2,059 $82,382 1.3%
75 Rocky Point, WA 1,546 $93,988 6.8%
76 Lake Cassidy, WA 2,782 $103,229 1.8%
77 Fairchild Afb, WA 3,184 $67,325 3.9%
78 Sisco Heights, WA 2,972 $119,036 4.8%
79 Anderson Island, WA 1,621 $92,933 0.0%
80 Home, WA 1,692 $89,444 0.0%
81 Yacolt, WA 1,563 $79,479 2.2%
82 Warm Beach, WA 3,156 $113,380 3.4%
83 Nooksack, WA 1,564 $76,125 2.7%
84 Arlington Heights, WA 3,122 $108,690 2.9%
85 Crocker, WA 1,218 $109,091 2.2%
86 Lewisville, WA 2,474 $114,968 4.4%
87 Kalama, WA 2,952 $100,600 1.6%
88 Indianola, WA 3,553 $91,759 4.8%
89 West Pasco, WA 1,870 $147,833 8.2%
90 Amboy, WA 1,680 $138,021 4.2%
91 Enetai, WA 1,869 $68,839 10.1%
92 Okanogan, WA 2,640 $68,850 3.1%
93 Ilwaco, WA 1,433 $85,446 0.6%
94 Davenport, WA 1,850 $71,486 5.6%
95 Lake Bosworth, WA 1,059 $122,917 5.5%
96 Raymond, WA 3,092 $57,991 0.5%
97 Point Roberts, WA 1,249 $74,400 2.5%
98 Port Ludlow, WA 3,096 $86,891 5.3%
99 North Puyallup, WA 1,544 $78,091 4.1%
100 Purdy, WA 1,422 $83,952 9.6%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings