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Capitol Lake, Olympia, Washington, July 20, 2025 (cropped)Olympia, the state capital · Photo: OceanLoop · CC BY-SA 4.0
Washington · 285 graded towns

Towns and cities in Washington

39 of Washington’s 285 graded towns and cities (14%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns. Sammamish ranks first in the state with an A+; health (A+) and schools (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (D) is its lowest.

Letters are national: the overall grade blends cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk. How grades work

How Washington compares: report cardBest places to liveBest small townsMost affordable townsSafest townsTowns with the best schoolsHealthiest towns
285
towns of 2,500+ with an overall grade
39
grade A− or better nationally
0
of 2,500+ without enough data for a grade
112
smaller places (1,000–2,499) with subject grades
Towns by letter
A+2A18A−19B+31B37B−36C+32C32C−35D28D−15

All 285 graded towns, by county

Every town of 2,500+ residents with an overall grade, in 33 counties, A to Z inside each. The rank is among 285 Washington towns on the best places to live list. A town that spans counties is listed in the one where most of it lies.

285 graded towns, A to Z.

Sort within each county:
Jump to a county (33)

Adams County 1 graded

  1. DOthello#267 of 2859,237

Asotin County 3 graded

  1. DClarkston#256 of 2857,189
  2. C+Clarkston Heights-Vinelandunincorporated, Asotin County#166 of 2857,884
  3. DWest Clarkston-Highlandunincorporated, Asotin County#249 of 2855,444

Benton County 6 graded

  1. DBenton City#266 of 2854,019
  2. CFinleyunincorporated, Benton County#176 of 2855,634
  3. C−Kennewick#228 of 28588,366
  4. C−Prosser#222 of 2856,654
  5. B−Richland#109 of 28565,258
  6. B+West Richland#40 of 28519,257

Chelan County 5 graded

  1. A−Cashmere#38 of 2853,326
  2. C+Chelan#157 of 2854,494
  3. A−Leavenworth#31 of 2853,373
  4. C+Sunnyslopeunincorporated, Chelan County#145 of 2853,706
  5. C−Wenatchee#212 of 28535,547

Clallam County 4 graded

  1. DForks#246 of 2853,488
  2. C−Port Angeles#230 of 28520,146
  3. BPort Angeles Eastunincorporated, Clallam County#71 of 2853,137
  4. C−Sequim#232 of 2858,215

Clark County 18 graded

  1. BBarbertonunincorporated, Clark County#94 of 2858,668
  2. BBattle Ground#99 of 28523,513
  3. BBrush Prairieunincorporated, Clark County#106 of 2852,526
  4. ACamas#17 of 28527,749
  5. BFelidaunincorporated, Clark County#101 of 28510,841
  6. B−Five Cornersunincorporated, Clark County#143 of 28521,194
  7. CHazel Dellunincorporated, Clark County#182 of 28523,237
  8. B+Hockinsonunincorporated, Clark County#41 of 2856,150
  9. C−La Center#211 of 2854,433
  10. B−Lake Shoreunincorporated, Clark County#111 of 2856,978
  11. C+Minnehahaunincorporated, Clark County#148 of 28511,482
  12. B−Mount Vistaunincorporated, Clark County#120 of 28510,764
  13. C+Orchardsunincorporated, Clark County#167 of 28529,438
  14. BRidgefield#92 of 28516,132
  15. B−Salmon Creekunincorporated, Clark County#110 of 28520,017
  16. C−Vancouver#237 of 285199,698
  17. CVenersborgunincorporated, Clark County#192 of 2854,262
  18. C+Washougal#161 of 28518,028

Columbia County 1 graded

  1. B−Dayton#131 of 2852,538

Cowlitz County 6 graded

  1. C+Kalama#172 of 2853,165
  2. DKelso#261 of 28512,801
  3. DLexingtonunincorporated, Cowlitz County#253 of 2854,413
  4. D−Longview#275 of 28538,362
  5. D−Longview Heightsunincorporated, Cowlitz County#279 of 2854,357
  6. C−Woodland#238 of 2856,611

Douglas County 1 graded

  1. C+East Wenatchee#158 of 28514,414

Franklin County 2 graded

  1. B−Connell#126 of 2855,080
  2. DPasco#255 of 28582,848

Grant County 8 graded

  1. D−Cascade Valleyunincorporated, Grant County#271 of 2854,609
  2. D−Desert Aireunincorporated, Grant County#285 of 2852,788
  3. CEphrata#202 of 2858,834
  4. D−Mattawa#283 of 2853,874
  5. DMoses Lake#258 of 28527,469
  6. DMoses Lake Northunincorporated, Grant County#269 of 2854,517
  7. C−Quincy#208 of 2858,510
  8. CWarden#183 of 2852,830

Grays Harbor County 6 graded

  1. D−Aberdeen#282 of 28517,088
  2. C−Central Parkunincorporated, Grays Harbor County#219 of 2853,206
  3. C−Elma#229 of 2853,534
  4. D−Hoquiam#276 of 2858,710
  5. B−Montesano#117 of 2854,181
  6. DOcean Shores#248 of 2857,892

Island County 2 graded

  1. B−Camanounincorporated, Island County#141 of 28517,303
  2. B−Oak Harbor#123 of 28524,083

Jefferson County 3 graded

  1. DPort Hadlock-Irondaleunincorporated, Jefferson County#251 of 2853,884
  2. C−Port Ludlowunincorporated, Jefferson County#220 of 2852,891
  3. C−Port Townsend#227 of 28510,678

King County 48 graded

  1. B−Algona#140 of 2853,253
  2. C−Auburn#214 of 28586,301
  3. B+Bellevue#63 of 285154,193
  4. ABlack Diamond#12 of 2856,978
  5. A−Bothellalso in Snohomish County#23 of 28552,199
  6. B−Boulevard Parkunincorporated, King County#142 of 2854,575
  7. C+Bryn Mawr-Skywayunincorporated, King County#152 of 28517,638
  8. DBurien#243 of 28551,859
  9. AClyde Hill#4 of 2853,161
  10. ACottage Lakeunincorporated, King County#19 of 28522,518
  11. C+Covington#170 of 28521,496
  12. C−Des Moines#235 of 28533,032
  13. ADuvall#7 of 2859,440
  14. A−East Renton Highlandsunincorporated, King County#21 of 28512,582
  15. B+Enumclaw#47 of 28513,172
  16. B−Fairwoodunincorporated, King County · another Fairwood is in Spokane County#127 of 28517,856
  17. C−Federal Way#242 of 28599,729
  18. B+Hobartunincorporated, King County#48 of 2856,552
  19. B+Issaquah#56 of 28539,423
  20. AKenmore#9 of 28524,249
  21. C−Kent#221 of 285134,871
  22. A−Kirkland#28 of 28597,410
  23. A−Lake Forest Park#33 of 28513,191
  24. B−Lake Holmunincorporated, King County#115 of 2853,555
  25. B−Lake Morton-Berrydaleunincorporated, King County#137 of 28511,183
  26. CLakeland Northunincorporated, King County#199 of 28515,950
  27. C+Lakeland Southunincorporated, King County#162 of 28513,100
  28. B−Maple Heights-Lake Desireunincorporated, King County#124 of 2854,113
  29. A−Maple Valley#39 of 28528,482
  30. AMedina#3 of 2852,974
  31. AMercer Island#6 of 28525,422
  32. A−Mirrormontunincorporated, King County#32 of 2854,019
  33. B+Newcastle#57 of 28513,128
  34. BNormandy Park#107 of 2856,609
  35. B+North Bend#53 of 2858,758
  36. C+Pacific#146 of 2857,056
  37. B+Redmond#49 of 28582,506
  38. CRenton#193 of 285104,975
  39. A+Sammamish#1 of 28566,110
  40. DSeaTac#245 of 28534,578
  41. B−Seattle#128 of 285784,777
  42. B+Shoreline#64 of 28566,542
  43. ASnoqualmie#11 of 28513,640
  44. C−Tukwila#236 of 28522,003
  45. AUnion Hill-Novelty Hillunincorporated, King County#15 of 28523,047
  46. BVashonunincorporated, King County#90 of 2859,934
  47. CWhite Centerunincorporated, King County#191 of 28514,886
  48. B+Woodinville#52 of 28514,548

Kitsap County 16 graded

  1. ABainbridge Island#8 of 28524,691
  2. BBangor Baseunincorporated, Kitsap County#91 of 2856,112
  3. BBethelunincorporated, Kitsap County#83 of 2854,394
  4. C−Bremerton#213 of 28545,482
  5. A−Chicounincorporated, Kitsap County#29 of 2853,336
  6. C+East Port Orchardunincorporated, Kitsap County#147 of 2854,725
  7. B−Hansvilleunincorporated, Kitsap County#116 of 2853,384
  8. B+Indianolaunincorporated, Kitsap County#58 of 2853,468
  9. B+Manchesterunincorporated, Kitsap County#62 of 2855,956
  10. C−Navy Yard Cityunincorporated, Kitsap County#224 of 2852,672
  11. BParkwoodunincorporated, Kitsap County#88 of 2856,873
  12. CPort Orchard#181 of 28519,839
  13. BPoulsbo#104 of 28512,749
  14. BSilverdaleunincorporated, Kitsap County#78 of 28520,685
  15. BSuquamishunincorporated, Kitsap County#80 of 2854,084
  16. B+Tracytonunincorporated, Kitsap County#42 of 2856,137

Kittitas County 1 graded

  1. C−Ellensburg#223 of 28521,308

Klickitat County 2 graded

  1. DGoldendale#244 of 2853,528
  2. B+White Salmon#59 of 2852,655

Lewis County 3 graded

  1. D−Centralia#274 of 28519,375
  2. DChehalis#264 of 2857,764
  3. CWinlock#207 of 2852,640

Mason County 2 graded

  1. CBelfairunincorporated, Mason County#196 of 2854,557
  2. D−Shelton#278 of 28510,921

Okanogan County 1 graded

  1. C−Omak#233 of 2855,185

Pacific County 1 graded

  1. DRaymond#265 of 2853,235

Pierce County 44 graded

  1. B−Aldertonunincorporated, Pierce County#113 of 2852,706
  2. B+Artondaleunincorporated, Pierce County#54 of 28514,073
  3. BBonney Lake#75 of 28522,139
  4. B−Buckley#136 of 2855,688
  5. B+Canterwoodunincorporated, Pierce County#70 of 2852,971
  6. C−Clover Creekunincorporated, Pierce County#241 of 2857,345
  7. B+DuPont#51 of 2859,778
  8. B−Eatonville#118 of 2852,861
  9. B−Edgewood#132 of 28513,548
  10. C−Elk Plainunincorporated, Pierce County#231 of 28514,276
  11. C−Fife#226 of 28511,061
  12. B−Fircrest#121 of 2856,959
  13. DFort Lewisunincorporated, Pierce County#250 of 28515,167
  14. B+Fox Islandunincorporated, Pierce County#65 of 2853,414
  15. CFredericksonunincorporated, Pierce County#178 of 28525,383
  16. BGig Harbor#102 of 28512,630
  17. CGrahamunincorporated, Pierce County#194 of 28535,079
  18. B−Key Centerunincorporated, Pierce County#139 of 2853,544
  19. B+Lake Tappsunincorporated, Pierce County#69 of 28512,798
  20. DLakewood#262 of 28562,755
  21. CLongbranchunincorporated, Pierce County#203 of 2854,638
  22. BMaplewoodunincorporated, Pierce County#73 of 2855,803
  23. C−McChord AFBunincorporated, Pierce County#218 of 2852,999
  24. CMidlandunincorporated, Pierce County#187 of 2859,050
  25. C−Miltonalso in King County#210 of 2858,911
  26. CNorth Fort Lewisunincorporated, Pierce County#206 of 2856,337
  27. B−Orting#122 of 2858,884
  28. C−Parklandunincorporated, Pierce County#216 of 28538,742
  29. BPrairie Heightsunincorporated, Pierce County#79 of 2854,998
  30. BPrairie Ridgeunincorporated, Pierce County#77 of 28512,074
  31. CPuyallup#195 of 28542,682
  32. B+Rosedaleunincorporated, Pierce County#68 of 2854,208
  33. BSouth Hillunincorporated, Pierce County#85 of 28568,025
  34. CSpanawayunincorporated, Pierce County#180 of 28534,019
  35. B+Steilacoom#66 of 2856,648
  36. B−Summitunincorporated, Pierce County#138 of 2858,791
  37. B−Summit Viewunincorporated, Pierce County#114 of 2858,480
  38. C+Sumner#159 of 28510,871
  39. C−Tacoma#234 of 285229,816
  40. BTehalehunincorporated, Pierce County#84 of 2859,561
  41. BUniversity Place#103 of 28535,479
  42. BWallerunincorporated, Pierce County#105 of 2857,683
  43. B+Waunaunincorporated, Pierce County#60 of 2854,805
  44. AWollochetunincorporated, Pierce County#16 of 2856,689

San Juan County 1 graded

  1. BFriday Harbor#97 of 2852,729

Skagit County 4 graded

  1. BAnacortes#72 of 28518,080
  2. DBurlington#268 of 28511,356
  3. DMount Vernon#260 of 28535,193
  4. CSedro-Woolley#186 of 28513,308

Snohomish County 45 graded

  1. B+Alderwood Manorunincorporated, Snohomish County#67 of 28510,266
  2. CArlington#198 of 28522,031
  3. CArlington Heightsunincorporated, Snohomish County#188 of 2852,727
  4. ABothell Eastunincorporated, Snohomish County#5 of 28514,578
  5. ABothell Westunincorporated, Snohomish County#13 of 28522,029
  6. B+Brier#46 of 2856,597
  7. C+Bryantunincorporated, Snohomish County#160 of 2852,648
  8. B−Bunk Fossunincorporated, Snohomish County#112 of 2853,627
  9. D−Canyon Creekunincorporated, Snohomish County#280 of 2853,910
  10. A−Chain Lakeunincorporated, Snohomish County#34 of 2854,950
  11. AClearviewunincorporated, Snohomish County#14 of 2853,254
  12. A−Eastmontunincorporated, Snohomish County#37 of 28523,721
  13. BEdmonds#98 of 28542,748
  14. B+Esperanceunincorporated, Snohomish County#44 of 2854,189
  15. C+Everett#156 of 285113,567
  16. B+Fobes Hillunincorporated, Snohomish County#50 of 2852,569
  17. C−Gold Bar#215 of 2852,561
  18. C+Granite Falls#154 of 2854,686
  19. B−High Bridgeunincorporated, Snohomish County#108 of 2853,196
  20. BLake Cassidyunincorporated, Snohomish County#89 of 2853,292
  21. CLake Goodwinunincorporated, Snohomish County#205 of 2855,536
  22. A−Lake Stevens#25 of 28542,091
  23. BLake Stickneyunincorporated, Snohomish County#95 of 28515,890
  24. A−Larch Wayunincorporated, Snohomish County#30 of 2854,424
  25. B−Lochsloyunincorporated, Snohomish County#129 of 2853,029
  26. CLynnwood#200 of 28542,132
  27. AMaltbyunincorporated, Snohomish County#18 of 28510,910
  28. BMartha Lakeunincorporated, Snohomish County#82 of 28522,634
  29. CMarysville#185 of 28577,686
  30. A−Meadowdaleunincorporated, Snohomish County#26 of 2853,009
  31. A−Mill Creek#24 of 28520,902
  32. AMill Creek Eastunincorporated, Snohomish County#10 of 28525,453
  33. C+Monroe#153 of 28520,025
  34. BMountlake Terrace#100 of 28525,430
  35. BMukilteo#81 of 28521,239
  36. B+North Lynnwoodunincorporated, Snohomish County#61 of 28523,339
  37. BPicnic Pointunincorporated, Snohomish County#87 of 28510,261
  38. A−Silver Firsunincorporated, Snohomish County#22 of 28522,306
  39. C+Sisco Heightsunincorporated, Snohomish County#175 of 2853,015
  40. B−Snohomish#125 of 28510,719
  41. B−Stanwood#130 of 2859,421
  42. BSultan#86 of 2857,230
  43. BThree Lakesunincorporated, Snohomish County#96 of 2854,055
  44. C+Warm Beachunincorporated, Snohomish County#155 of 2853,442
  45. C+Woods Creekunincorporated, Snohomish County#165 of 2856,943

Spokane County 13 graded

  1. DAirway Heights#254 of 28511,811
  2. C+Cheney#149 of 28512,650
  3. B+Country Homesunincorporated, Spokane County#43 of 2856,198
  4. C+Deer Park#151 of 2855,370
  5. A−Fairchild AFBunincorporated, Spokane County#27 of 2852,931
  6. AFairwoodunincorporated, Spokane County · another Fairwood is in King County#20 of 28510,674
  7. B+Liberty Lake#45 of 28514,029
  8. BMeadunincorporated, Spokane County#76 of 2856,893
  9. A+Medical Lake#2 of 2854,964
  10. C+Otis Orchards-East Farmsunincorporated, Spokane County#163 of 2855,454
  11. CSpokane#197 of 285230,783
  12. CSpokane Valley#184 of 285108,405
  13. A−Town and Countryunincorporated, Spokane County#35 of 2854,890

Stevens County 3 graded

  1. DChewelah#252 of 2852,712
  2. A−Colville#36 of 2855,116
  3. C+Suncrestunincorporated, Stevens County#150 of 2855,345

Thurston County 8 graded

  1. CGrand Moundunincorporated, Thurston County#189 of 2853,287
  2. CLacey#177 of 28558,833
  3. C+North Yelmunincorporated, Thurston County#168 of 2852,522
  4. C+Olympia#173 of 28556,724
  5. C−Rochesterunincorporated, Thurston County#209 of 2855,834
  6. B−Tanglewildeunincorporated, Thurston County#119 of 2856,314
  7. B−Tumwater#133 of 28528,010
  8. C+Yelm#174 of 28512,043

Walla Walla County 3 graded

  1. DBurbankunincorporated, Walla Walla County#263 of 2853,589
  2. C+College Place#171 of 2859,923
  3. C−Walla Walla#239 of 28534,058

Whatcom County 9 graded

  1. C−Bellingham#225 of 28596,395
  2. CBirch Bayunincorporated, Whatcom County#204 of 28510,837
  3. DBlaine#247 of 2856,475
  4. BEverson#93 of 2853,254
  5. CFerndale#201 of 28517,559
  6. B−Lynden#135 of 28516,881
  7. CMarietta-Alderwoodunincorporated, Whatcom County#179 of 2853,754
  8. D−Peaceful Valleyunincorporated, Whatcom County#284 of 2852,858
  9. C+Sudden Valleyunincorporated, Whatcom County#169 of 2856,084

Whitman County 2 graded

  1. C+Colfax#144 of 2852,667
  2. BPullman#74 of 28533,756

Yakima County 13 graded

  1. CAhtanumunincorporated, Yakima County#190 of 2853,777
  2. C−Gleedunincorporated, Yakima County#217 of 2852,844
  3. D−Grandview#273 of 28512,062
  4. DGranger#257 of 2853,831
  5. B+Moxee#55 of 2854,765
  6. C+Selah#164 of 2858,678
  7. DSunnyside#270 of 28516,430
  8. B−Terrace Heightsunincorporated, Yakima County#134 of 28510,041
  9. D−Toppenish#277 of 2858,635
  10. D−Union Gap#281 of 2856,617
  11. DWapato#259 of 2854,469
  12. D−Yakima#272 of 28597,458
  13. C−Zillah#240 of 2853,111
Also in Washington

Not on the ranked list

Not graded

Every Washington town of 2,500+ residents has an overall grade.

Smaller places 112 with 1,000–2,499 residents

These have subject grades (safety, schools, health and the rest) but no overall grade or rank: the overall starts at 2,500 residents.

Go deeper

Lists in Washington

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Washington rankings →
Best places to live285 towns · #1 SammamishBest small towns152 towns · #1 Medical LakeMost affordable towns285 towns · #1 ConnellSafest towns130 towns · #1 DuvallTowns with the best schools285 towns · #1 Mercer IslandHealthiest towns285 towns · #1 Clyde Hill and Medina and Mercer Island and SammamishBest towns for jobs & income285 towns · #1 Larch WayMost walkable towns285 towns · #1 SeattleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk285 towns · #1 Fairchild AFBBest towns for the outdoors285 towns · #1 Maple Heights-Lake DesireMost historic towns285 towns · #1 ColvilleTowns with the most civic life152 towns · #1 Friday HarborTowns with the least snow252 towns · #1 RaymondDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns252 towns · #1 LeavenworthDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters265 towns · #1 Ocean ShoresDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers265 towns · #1 ClarkstonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers265 towns · #1 Ocean ShoresDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes285 towns · #1 Clyde Hill and MedinaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes272 towns · #1 MattawaDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns149 towns · #1 RidgefieldDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries20 towns · #1 Port TownsendDescribed, no letters