wheretolive.us Real data. Smarter moves. Better living.

State index

Washington state guide

Compare large Washington cities by 2025 Census population, young-grad fit, BLS state unemployment, schooling access, cost pressure, commute, and safety-check notes. The current Washington subset includes 124 West city pages with a combined 2025 population estimate of 5,038,665.

What the current Washington catalog shows

Ridgefield, Washington has the strongest verified population-growth signal in this Washington subset at +55.61% since the 2020 estimates base. Black Diamond, Washington has the lowest ACS rent-to-income baseline among the matched catalog cities at 12.3%. These figures describe the WhereToLive.us city subset, not a statewide average.

Catalog cities 124

124 have matched ACS place data.

Catalog median rent $1,705

Median of matched city ACS gross-rent estimates; not a statewide rent.

Catalog median income $90,579

Median of matched city ACS household-income estimates; not a statewide income.

Catalog median home value $539,250

Median of matched city ACS owner-occupied home values.

Average grad fit 65/100

Redmond, Washington leads this subset at 82/100.

Catalog median commute 27.3 min

Median of matched city approximate ACS commute estimates.

City Catalog Grad fit Median rent Median income 2025 population City unemployment Growth Jobs Cost
Seattle, Washington #18 77/100 $2,030 $123,860 784,777 4.6% +6.47% cautious rent watch
Spokane, Washington Washington coverage 62/100 $1,215 $70,064 230,783 5.7% +0.79% competitive rent watch
Tacoma, Washington Washington coverage 63/100 $1,676 $85,884 229,816 5.6% +4.63% competitive rent stretched
Vancouver, Washington Washington coverage 64/100 $1,702 $81,338 199,698 5.7% +4.62% competitive rent stretched
Bellevue, Washington Washington coverage 65/100 $2,572 $165,576 154,193 4.2% +1.53% competitive rent watch
Kent, Washington Washington coverage 57/100 $1,909 $92,302 134,871 7.0% -0.37% competitive rent stretched
Everett, Washington Washington coverage 61/100 $1,740 $83,512 113,567 5.8% +2.76% competitive rent stretched
Spokane Valley, Washington Washington coverage 65/100 $1,353 $74,042 108,405 5.2% +5.17% competitive rent watch
Renton, Washington Washington coverage 57/100 $1,998 $100,432 104,975 4.9% -1.75% competitive rent stretched
Federal Way, Washington Washington coverage 56/100 $1,797 $86,909 99,729 5.4% -1.29% competitive rent stretched
Yakima, Washington 2025 population #353 60/100 $1,117 $62,815 97,458 8.4% +0.53% competitive rent watch
Kirkland, Washington 2025 population #354 72/100 $2,401 $150,414 97,410 4.6% +5.68% competitive rent watch
Bellingham, Washington 2025 population #361 62/100 $1,577 $66,755 96,395 5.6% +5.38% competitive rent stretched
Kennewick, Washington 2025 population #409 65/100 $1,240 $73,576 88,366 5.1% +5.25% competitive rent watch
Auburn, Washington 2025 population #423 55/100 $1,786 $97,884 86,301 6.0% -2.41% competitive rent watch
Pasco, Washington 2025 population #445 69/100 $1,227 $85,586 82,848 5.3% +7.14% competitive rent-friendly
Redmond, Washington 2025 population #448 82/100 $2,409 $162,560 82,506 4.9% +12.58% competitive rent-friendly
Marysville, Washington 2025 population #489 69/100 $1,997 $103,974 77,686 3.9% +9.86% competitive rent watch
Shoreline, Washington 2025 population #594 79/100 $1,985 $112,751 66,542 4.6% +13.78% competitive rent watch
Sammamish, Washington 2025 population #601 64/100 $2,857 $239,690 66,110 3.1% -2.00% competitive rent-friendly
Richland, Washington 2025 population #610 74/100 $1,468 $95,813 65,258 5.6% +7.72% competitive rent watch
Lakewood, Washington 2025 population #638 53/100 $1,525 $74,720 62,755 5.7% -1.35% competitive rent stretched
Lacey, Washington 2025 population #691 64/100 $1,870 $90,625 58,833 4.9% +4.42% competitive rent stretched
Olympia, Washington 2025 population #731 66/100 $1,599 $81,302 56,724 7.3% +2.43% competitive rent stretched
Bothell, Washington 2025 population #786 78/100 $2,346 $140,427 52,199 3.9% +8.40% competitive rent watch
Burien, Washington 2025 population #794 57/100 $1,782 $91,318 51,859 7.0% -0.42% competitive rent stretched
Bremerton, Washington 2025 population #913 64/100 $1,641 $74,940 45,482 5.7% +4.76% competitive rent stretched
Edmonds, Washington 2025 population #969 64/100 $1,903 $122,449 42,748 4.1% -0.24% competitive rent watch
Puyallup, Washington 2025 population #973 57/100 $1,812 $97,826 42,682 6.0% -0.67% competitive rent watch
Lynnwood, Washington 2025 population #987 70/100 $1,742 $77,704 42,132 4.3% +9.24% competitive rent stretched
Lake Stevens, Washington 2025 population #988 72/100 $2,224 $122,336 42,091 4.8% +8.17% competitive rent watch
Issaquah, Washington 2025 population #1057 64/100 $2,590 $154,669 39,423 3.3% -1.59% competitive rent watch
Longview, Washington 2025 population #1088 57/100 $1,137 $61,747 38,362 6.0% +1.44% competitive rent watch
Wenatchee, Washington 2025 population #1162 62/100 $1,248 $73,040 35,547 3.2% -0.23% competitive rent watch
University Place, Washington 2025 population #1163 64/100 $1,762 $99,031 35,479 5.1% +1.72% competitive rent watch
Mount Vernon, Washington 2025 population #1178 55/100 $1,405 $75,777 35,193 6.0% -0.11% competitive rent watch
SeaTac, Washington 2025 population #1207 70/100 $1,660 $81,104 34,578 7.0% +9.95% competitive rent stretched
Walla Walla, Washington 2025 population #1219 56/100 $1,323 $66,748 34,058 7.7% -0.64% competitive rent stretched
Pullman, Washington 2025 population #1236 61/100 $1,062 $46,812 33,756 8.3% +2.58% competitive rent stretched
Des Moines, Washington 2025 population #1253 58/100 $1,799 $92,483 33,032 7.5% +0.35% competitive rent stretched
Maple Valley, Washington 2025 population #1415 65/100 $2,304 $152,885 28,482 4.8% +1.46% competitive rent watch
Tumwater, Washington 2025 population #1440 70/100 $1,779 $95,212 28,010 5.3% +7.59% competitive rent watch
Camas, Washington 2025 population #1452 75/100 $2,090 $141,126 27,749 4.0% +5.98% competitive rent-friendly
Moses Lake, Washington 2025 population #1466 72/100 $1,216 $74,752 27,469 4.6% +8.33% competitive rent watch
Mountlake Terrace, Washington 2025 population #1590 74/100 $2,004 $107,687 25,430 4.2% +19.44% competitive rent watch
Mercer Island, Washington 2025 population #1592 64/100 $2,502 $219,069 25,422 3.0% -1.27% competitive rent-friendly
Bainbridge Island, Washington 2025 population #1643 65/100 $2,194 $172,188 24,691 2.8% -0.53% competitive rent-friendly
Kenmore, Washington 2025 population #1657 68/100 $1,949 $139,764 24,249 3.8% +1.43% competitive rent-friendly
Oak Harbor, Washington 2025 population #1663 57/100 $1,645 $76,084 24,083 5.4% -2.18% competitive rent stretched
Battle Ground, Washington 2025 population #1696 74/100 $1,576 $104,977 23,513 3.7% +13.24% competitive rent-friendly
Bonney Lake, Washington 2025 population #1785 62/100 $2,256 $136,845 22,139 3.6% +2.21% competitive rent watch
Arlington, Washington 2025 population #1793 69/100 $1,905 $88,231 22,031 4.2% +10.59% competitive rent stretched
Tukwila, Washington 2025 population #1795 53/100 $1,898 $78,381 22,003 6.4% +1.03% competitive rent stretched
Covington, Washington 2025 population #1822 64/100 $2,232 $134,502 21,496 4.1% +3.50% competitive rent watch
Ellensburg, Washington 2025 population #1833 56/100 $1,340 $55,438 21,308 8.9% -1.26% competitive rent stretched
Mukilteo, Washington 2025 population #1841 63/100 $2,166 $132,861 21,239 3.1% -1.36% competitive rent watch
Mill Creek, Washington 2025 population #1871 63/100 $2,249 $124,364 20,902 4.5% -0.14% competitive rent watch
Port Angeles, Washington 2025 population #1934 61/100 $1,170 $62,606 20,146 5.1% +0.95% competitive rent watch
Monroe, Washington 2025 population #1944 62/100 $1,950 $110,461 20,025 5.7% +1.03% competitive rent watch
Port Orchard, Washington 2025 population #1960 72/100 $1,797 $89,795 19,839 3.9% +27.34% competitive rent stretched
Centralia, Washington 2025 population #1998 62/100 $1,084 $56,219 19,375 5.7% +5.81% competitive rent stretched
West Richland, Washington 2025 population #2003 81/100 $1,590 $119,892 19,257 4.8% +18.31% competitive rent-friendly
Anacortes, Washington 2025 population #2101 64/100 $1,702 $91,951 18,080 4.2% +2.56% competitive rent watch
Washougal, Washington 2025 population #2108 68/100 $1,701 $106,368 18,028 7.7% +5.79% competitive rent watch
Ferndale, Washington 2025 population #2155 76/100 $1,477 $87,579 17,559 3.1% +16.48% competitive rent watch
Aberdeen, Washington 2025 population #2203 56/100 $1,049 $52,195 17,088 10.0% +0.41% competitive rent stretched
Lynden, Washington 2025 population #2219 70/100 $1,707 $103,233 16,881 3.6% +7.12% competitive rent watch
Sunnyside, Washington 2025 population #2265 60/100 $1,026 $60,923 16,430 12.3% +0.26% competitive rent watch
Ridgefield, Washington 2025 population #2300 75/100 $2,335 $116,389 16,132 6.9% +55.61% competitive rent stretched
Woodinville, Washington 2025 population #2458 82/100 $2,416 $164,398 14,548 4.3% +11.53% competitive rent-friendly
East Wenatchee, Washington 2025 population #2479 62/100 $1,327 $77,558 14,414 4.6% +1.82% competitive rent watch
Liberty Lake, Washington 2025 population #2527 78/100 $1,895 $118,723 14,029 2.7% +16.90% competitive rent watch
Snoqualmie, Washington 2025 population #2580 63/100 $2,938 $214,107 13,640 2.6% -3.23% competitive rent-friendly
Edgewood, Washington 2025 population #2592 75/100 $2,034 $116,132 13,548 1.8% +9.82% competitive rent watch
Sedro-Woolley, Washington 2025 population #2632 63/100 $1,525 $80,885 13,308 4.8% +6.89% competitive rent watch
Lake Forest Park, Washington 2025 population #2649 63/100 $2,333 $159,904 13,191 4.4% -3.25% competitive rent-friendly
Enumclaw, Washington 2025 population #2650 63/100 $1,954 $121,250 13,172 3.7% +5.06% competitive rent watch
Newcastle, Washington 2025 population #2653 67/100 $2,369 $160,278 13,128 5.6% +0.87% competitive rent-friendly
Kelso, Washington 2025 population #2704 59/100 $1,220 $66,751 12,801 6.6% +0.72% competitive rent watch
Poulsbo, Washington 2025 population #2712 70/100 $1,886 $116,250 12,749 3.7% +6.67% competitive rent watch
Cheney, Washington 2025 population #2727 55/100 $1,156 $54,503 12,650 13.1% -4.68% competitive rent stretched
Gig Harbor, Washington 2025 population #2730 67/100 $2,301 $118,395 12,630 2.7% +4.85% competitive rent stretched
Grandview, Washington 2025 population #2823 73/100 $1,107 $61,106 12,062 6.7% +9.79% competitive rent watch
Yelm, Washington 2025 population #2826 71/100 $1,626 $90,750 12,043 3.8% +12.99% competitive rent watch
Airway Heights, Washington 2025 population #2864 71/100 $1,389 $62,874 11,811 8.9% +9.82% competitive rent stretched
Burlington, Washington 2025 population #2934 70/100 $1,746 $80,475 11,356 4.3% +23.91% competitive rent stretched
Fife, Washington 2025 population #2997 56/100 $1,889 $90,532 11,061 5.2% +1.01% competitive rent stretched
Shelton, Washington 2025 population #3021 62/100 $1,365 $69,598 10,921 3.8% +5.31% competitive rent stretched
Sumner, Washington 2025 population #3033 57/100 $1,974 $98,191 10,871 5.3% +2.37% competitive rent stretched
Snohomish, Washington 2025 population #3060 64/100 $1,654 $87,250 10,719 10.6% +5.87% competitive rent watch
Port Townsend, Washington 2025 population #3068 64/100 $1,578 $62,606 10,678 10.4% +5.21% competitive high rent burden
College Place, Washington 2025 population #3242 59/100 $1,186 $61,914 9,923 6.4% -0.10% competitive rent watch
DuPont, Washington 2025 population #3269 59/100 $2,322 $120,781 9,778 6.2% -3.09% competitive rent stretched
Duvall, Washington 2025 population #3336 81/100 $2,042 $197,361 9,440 2.5% +17.49% competitive rent-friendly
Stanwood, Washington 2025 population #3345 68/100 $1,766 $90,242 9,421 6.4% +21.97% competitive rent stretched
Othello, Washington 2025 population #3401 74/100 $882 $65,849 9,237 5.5% +8.16% competitive rent-friendly
Milton, Washington 2025 population #3484 52/100 $2,199 $96,540 8,911 5.3% +1.46% competitive rent stretched
Orting, Washington 2025 population #3493 55/100 $2,284 $132,877 8,884 2.8% -1.62% competitive rent watch
Ephrata, Washington 2025 population #3508 65/100 $1,106 $69,551 8,834 6.1% +4.33% competitive rent watch
North Bend, Washington 2025 population #3533 81/100 $2,091 $175,109 8,758 2.3% +17.38% competitive rent-friendly
Hoquiam, Washington 2025 population #3540 55/100 $1,086 $49,795 8,710 10.0% -0.72% competitive rent stretched
Selah, Washington 2025 population #3551 63/100 $1,539 $74,783 8,678 4.4% +5.37% competitive rent stretched
Toppenish, Washington 2025 population #3561 59/100 $985 $67,854 8,635 8.7% -2.42% competitive rent-friendly
Quincy, Washington 2025 population #3593 77/100 $1,161 $87,902 8,510 7.7% +12.75% competitive rent-friendly
Sequim, Washington 2025 population #3685 61/100 $1,195 $59,707 8,215 9.7% +2.28% competitive rent stretched
Ocean Shores, Washington 2025 population #3777 69/100 $1,284 $58,202 7,892 7.3% +17.58% competitive rent stretched
Chehalis, Washington 2025 population #3815 66/100 $1,102 $73,702 7,764 4.0% +4.38% competitive rent-friendly
Sultan, Washington 2025 population #3995 74/100 $1,729 $94,730 7,230 1.0% +39.93% competitive rent watch
Clarkston, Washington 2025 population #4009 59/100 $917 $54,152 7,189 9.6% -0.31% competitive rent watch
Pacific, Washington 2025 population #4046 56/100 $1,692 $115,625 7,056 4.6% -2.51% competitive rent-friendly
Black Diamond, Washington 2025 population #4079 80/100 $1,453 $141,383 6,978 1.3% +48.63% competitive rent-friendly
Fircrest, Washington 2025 population #4085 64/100 $1,554 $113,926 6,959 6.8% -2.68% competitive rent-friendly
Prosser, Washington 2025 population #4184 75/100 $944 $76,985 6,654 8.0% +8.55% competitive rent-friendly
Steilacoom, Washington 2025 population #4185 61/100 $1,818 $100,851 6,648 6.0% -1.23% competitive rent watch
Union Gap, Washington 2025 population #4197 58/100 $1,133 $59,651 6,617 13.4% +0.21% competitive rent watch
Woodland, Washington 2025 population #4200 59/100 $1,367 $81,193 6,611 1.9% +1.30% competitive rent watch
Normandy Park, Washington 2025 population #4201 65/100 $1,893 $162,476 6,609 2.3% -2.33% competitive rent-friendly
Brier, Washington 2025 population #4204 65/100 $2,318 $132,045 6,597 3.3% +0.76% competitive rent watch
Blaine, Washington 2025 population #4252 77/100 $1,450 $84,030 6,475 5.5% +10.08% competitive rent watch
Buckley, Washington 2025 population #4558 71/100 $1,992 $124,583 5,688 4.5% +11.33% competitive rent watch
Deer Park, Washington 2025 population #4707 69/100 $1,006 $54,391 5,370 14.1% +22.46% competitive rent watch
Omak, Washington 2025 population #4790 70/100 $1,002 $76,544 5,185 4.4% +6.69% competitive rent-friendly
Colville, Washington 2025 population #4829 64/100 $912 $56,558 5,116 4.7% +4.15% competitive rent watch
Connell, Washington 2025 population #4850 53/100 $1,011 $77,721 5,080 4.0% -6.67% competitive rent-friendly