These Are The 10 Worst Places To Live In Washington

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out that we updated it for 2018.

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When you think of Washington, you normally think of Seattle, rain, and beautiful mountains.

What you don’t normally think about are the potential stink holes that are around the mountains.

So we dug in and did the dirty work for you to figure out where the worst places to live are in the Evergreen State.

The following are the worst, not so evergreen places in Washington:

What? Where are these places you wonder? And before you get all riled up and say we’re picking on small town America, that’s not the case. We understand there’s a lot of good in every place.

However, according to data (which doesn’t measure things like beauty and ‘friendly people’), there are far better options in the state for making a place home. Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and see how your city fared in 2018.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.For more Washington reading, check out:

How we determined the worst places to live in Washington for 2018

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what cities have the least amount of those things.

We don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that people like the following things:

Good education
Lots of jobs
Low crime
Low poverty
Nice homes
High incomes
High population density (Lots of things to do)
Short work commutes
Health insurance

The data comes from the Census’s most recent American Community Survey and from the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

We broke crime down into violent crime and property crime to give violent crime a larger weight — if you did a simple calculation of all crimes per capita, property crimes are normally 7x more common and really bias that ranking.

Furthermore, only cities with at least 5,100 people were considered — leaving 118 cities.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 118 for all the criteria with a #1 ranking being the worst for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the rankings into one “Worst Place To Live Score”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Worst Place To Live Score” with the lowest score being the worst city in Washington — Shelton. Read on for a detailed look at the 10 worst cities in Washington.

This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased.

1. Shelton

Source: Wikipedia User Ian Poellet | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 9,832
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Home Values: $150,400 (16th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 10.6% (14th worst)
More on Shelton: Data | Jobs | Photos
While the median household income in Shelton is higher than other towns on this list, causing it to be lower down on the list of “worst cities”, Shelton still has the 14th worst unemployment rate in the state, as well as the 22nd worst crime index.

Therefore, though the average Shelton household brings in a higher income, there are fewer people working here than in other cities across the state. It doesn’t help that everyone has to be constantly worried about crime, either.

2. Kelso

Source: Wikipedia User Ian Poellet (Us | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 11,871
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Home Values: $120,700 (8th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 14.7% (3rd worst)
More on Kelso: Data | Jobs | Photos
Located in southwest Washington close to Mount St. Helens, Kelso ranks as the most unlivable place in Cowlitz County.

The city scored poorly across the board for the criteria we analyzed, with the exception of having an excellent commute time.

It seems that people in the cities on our list are much more likely on average to find ways to get out.

3. Union Gap

Source: Wikipedia User Jon Roanhaus | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 6,125
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Home Values: $93,700 (1st worst)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7% (80th worst)
More on Union Gap: Data | Jobs | Photos
You might have passed through Union Gap once and probably throught it seems to be a relatively quiet, clean place.

Here’s what science says about why Union Gap needs some love: The unemployment rate is nearly 5.7%, residents earn about $37,202 a year, and home prices are just over $93,700. Across the board, those are in the bottom half in the state. Not absolutely horrible, but not desirable, either.

And there simply isn’t anything to do in Union Gap.

4. Centralia

Source: Wikipedia User Steven Pavlov | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 16,729
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 5)
Home Values: $148,900 (15th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 9.5% (23rd worst)
More on Centralia: Data | Jobs | Photos
Centralia was the site of an infamous massacre in 1919 and now it has massacred the competition when it comes to being the worst place to live in Washington.

The mix of extremely high unemployment and crime is a winning combination to end up high on our list of worst places to live. Centralia resides in the worst 10% of both categories.

On the plus side, those who do a job have a relatively short commute to work as the median commute time for people in Centralia is the top 20% of places in Washington.

5. Aberdeen

Source: Wikipedia User Eric Hensley | CC BY-SA 2.5

Population: 16,335
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Home Values: $120,200 (7th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 8.6% (28th worst)
More on Aberdeen: Data | Jobs | Photos
Aberdeen ranks as the 5th worst place to live in Washington.

Known as the “Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula” it seems as if the nickname might want to add “Gateway to high unemployment” as it ranks as the 28th worst in the State.

That being said, the spending on childhood education in the city is higher than the state average and the weather is about average for Washington.

6. Airway Heights

Population: 6,523
Rank Last Year: 23 (Up 17)
Home Values: $150,800 (17th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 9.9% (18th worst)
More on Airway Heights: Data | Jobs
If, by some reason, you were driving through Airway Heights, after stopping to ask for directions, you may have noticed that things aren’t so peachy keen here.

It’s tough out there for people to stay afloat when their income levels are so low ($42,014) and they can’t get good jobs (9.9% unemployment rate).

Airway Heights ranks as the 6th wost place in Washington.

7. Hoquiam

Source: Wikipedia User Ken Lund from R | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 8,434
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Home Values: $96,600 (2nd worst)
Unemployment Rate: 13.2% (4th worst)
More on Hoquiam: Data | Jobs | Photos
Welcome to Hoquiam, which might be one of the poorest areas in Washington. Residents average $37,628 a year in combined income, which is right at the poverty line. In fact, 2110.0% of Hoquiam residents live below the poverty level.

Homes here go for an average of $96,600 and the unemployment rate hovers near 13.2%.

8. Toppenish

Source: Wikipedia User Jared DeJong | CC BY 2.0

Population: 8,977
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 3)
Home Values: $114,100 (4th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 9.7% (20th worst)
More on Toppenish: Data | Jobs | Photos
Toppenish, WA needs a big hug right now. Residents here are underpaid, underemployed and possibly lonely.

Additionally, crime is 30th worst in the state, which is very high considering Toppenish is so far removed from the rest of Washington.

If you know anyone in Toppenish, dm them on Facebook and tell them you love them. They can probably use it right about now.

9. Tukwila

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL

Population: 19,878
Rank Last Year: 8 (Down 1)
Home Values: $248,600 (65th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 7.4% (47th worst)
More on Tukwila: Data | Jobs | Photos
Tukwila doesn’t have it much better, in terms of overall economic outlook. The unemployment rate is at 7.4%, and people average less than $48,490 a year in combined household incomes. Homes stand at $248,600, which is very low, and crime in the worst 10% in Washington.

And again, in terms of the overall ‘enjoyment’ factor, it’s not easy to find fun on a Friday night.

10. Quincy

Source: Wikipedia User Todd Petit from | CC BY 2.0

Population: 7,248
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 5)
Home Values: $133,500 (11th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 12.8% (6th worst)
More on Quincy: Data | Jobs | Photos
Quincy, where there’s absolutely nothing to do unless you enjoy bowling, ranks as the 10th worst city in Washington.

Besides the lack of pure amenities, Quincy has some real economic problems to contend with. The unemployment rate hovers near 12.8%, and families earn around $51,508 a year. It’s also the 46th highest in Washington for crime, where 1 in 24.7 people gets robbed every year.

Does living in a place where people who come to visit are robbed sound like fun?

Wrapping Up The Worst In Washington

If you’re looking at areas in Washington with the worst economic situations, where there’s higher than average crime, and not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

And in the end, Shelton ranks as the worst city to live in Washington for 2018.

If you’re curious enough, here are the best cities to live in Washington:

Mercer Island (Pop. 24,467)
Sammamish (Pop. 62,136)
Newcastle (Pop. 11,189)

For more Washington reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Worst Cities In Washington

Rank	City	Population	Unemployment Rate	Home Value
1	Shelton	9,832	10.6%	$150,400
2	Kelso	11,871	14.7%	$120,700
3	Union Gap	6,125	5.7%	$93,700
4	Centralia	16,729	9.5%	$148,900
5	Aberdeen	16,335	8.6%	$120,200
6	Airway Heights	6,523	9.9%	$150,800
7	Hoquiam	8,434	13.2%	$96,600
8	Toppenish	8,977	9.7%	$114,100
9	Tukwila	19,878	7.4%	$248,600
10	Quincy	7,248	12.8%	$133,500
11	Yakima	93,338	10.0%	$158,400
12	Grandview	11,098	16.0%	$124,400
13	Wapato	5,062	13.0%	$111,200
14	Burlington	8,572	9.0%	$187,700
15	Sedro-Woolley	11,225	9.6%	$178,100
16	Clarkston	7,314	9.6%	$127,500
17	Longview	36,720	11.5%	$161,800
18	Moses Lake	21,846	8.0%	$144,900
19	Chehalis	7,340	6.6%	$168,000
20	Fife	9,645	7.5%	$229,100
21	Seatac	28,298	6.4%	$246,100
22	Port Angeles	19,420	11.0%	$188,300
23	Lakewood	59,489	10.8%	$218,600
24	Bremerton	39,388	8.7%	$178,600
25	Yelm	8,066	12.3%	$202,500
26	Sunnyside	16,217	7.1%	$119,100
27	Mount Vernon	33,388	8.1%	$206,500
28	Tacoma	205,602	8.0%	$212,400
29	Walla Walla	31,952	8.0%	$173,200
30	Ephrata	7,980	7.4%	$147,100
31	Everett	106,580	7.7%	$242,200
32	Auburn	75,607	7.4%	$241,800
33	Spokane	212,078	7.6%	$160,800
34	Port Orchard	13,265	10.1%	$256,500
35	Sequim	6,736	9.9%	$203,400
36	Cheney	11,479	11.9%	$176,100
37	Ocean Shores	5,673	17.7%	$181,100
38	Othello	7,726	4.4%	$148,700
39	Federal Way	93,986	6.8%	$259,300
40	Pasco	68,567	6.8%	$166,400
41	Kent	125,492	6.8%	$262,800
42	Spokane Valley	93,322	6.8%	$169,900
43	Connell	5,414	6.0%	$119,600
44	Sumner	9,691	5.9%	$234,700
45	Lynnwood	36,861	5.4%	$300,400
46	Woodland	5,684	3.6%	$193,900
47	Burien	50,187	5.8%	$290,500
48	Puyallup	39,274	7.4%	$258,800
49	Kennewick	77,975	6.9%	$174,500
50	Vancouver	169,982	8.1%	$217,200
51	Des Moines	30,904	6.7%	$266,500
52	Arlington	18,749	7.4%	$244,000
53	Ellensburg	18,957	5.5%	$206,800
54	Olympia	49,608	8.6%	$246,100
55	Pacific	7,042	8.3%	$211,600
56	Monroe	17,906	6.2%	$261,600
57	Wenatchee	33,257	6.2%	$208,200
58	Bellingham	84,462	7.9%	$306,300
59	Enumclaw	11,543	6.5%	$240,900
60	Prosser	5,860	3.6%	$158,700
61	East Wenatchee	13,589	5.5%	$216,300
62	Marysville	64,955	7.7%	$244,800
63	Renton	98,499	5.3%	$313,500
64	Ferndale	12,666	8.1%	$252,600
65	Snohomish	9,551	5.4%	$290,200
66	Lacey	45,644	8.8%	$227,900
67	Pullman	32,176	11.0%	$233,000
68	Orting	7,254	6.0%	$207,600
69	Gig Harbor	8,307	10.7%	$347,400
70	Tumwater	21,684	6.2%	$224,900
71	Oak Harbor	22,544	8.0%	$226,100
72	Dupont	9,224	10.6%	$310,600
73	College Place	8,996	4.5%	$173,100
74	Battle Ground	18,987	6.8%	$223,000
75	Bonney Lake	19,022	6.2%	$272,400
76	Stanwood	6,685	4.7%	$273,000
77	Washougal	14,987	7.3%	$243,400
78	Port Townsend	9,286	5.7%	$301,700
79	Selah	7,599	4.3%	$206,200
80	Milton	7,239	5.4%	$234,400
81	Seattle	668,849	5.1%	$484,600
82	West Richland	13,407	6.7%	$202,200
83	Richland	53,227	5.7%	$213,000
84	North Bend	6,475	7.1%	$424,100
85	Poulsbo	9,806	4.8%	$288,200
86	University Place	32,342	7.3%	$293,700
87	Shoreline	55,021	7.0%	$352,200
88	Lake Stevens	30,352	5.0%	$274,900
89	Edgewood	9,862	4.9%	$307,800
90	Anacortes	16,229	5.7%	$327,300
91	Steilacoom	6,175	7.4%	$295,300
92	Covington	19,172	4.8%	$271,200
93	Liberty Lake	8,566	8.9%	$263,000
94	Mountlake Terrace	20,747	5.0%	$274,900
95	Ridgefield	6,112	3.1%	$287,600
96	Bothell	43,153	6.2%	$372,700
97	Edmonds	41,020	5.2%	$413,000
98	Fircrest	6,660	8.5%	$282,400
99	Lynden	13,204	3.7%	$287,200
100	Kenmore	21,830	5.2%	$427,700