Guest, Sign inJoin
Aerial Friday Harbor Washington August 2009Friday Harbor, #1 on this list · Photo: Jelson25 · Public domain
Washington rankings · Civic life

Towns with the most civic life in Washington

Friday Harbor ranks first on civic life among Washington’s 152 towns of 2,500+; 36 of the 152 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work

#1

Friday Harbor

San Juan County · 2,729 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall B · #97 of 285 in WA

#2

Port Townsend

Jefferson County · 10,678 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C− · #227 of 285 in WA

#3

Port Angeles

Clallam County · 20,146 people
A+

Civic life grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #230 of 285 in WA

All 152 towns

Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

152 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Friday HarborSan Juan County · 2,729 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall B · #97 of 285
2Port TownsendJefferson County · 10,678 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C− · #227 of 285
3Port AngelesClallam County · 20,146 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #230 of 285
4Bainbridge IslandKitsap County · 24,691 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 285
5OmakOkanogan County · 5,185 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #233 of 285
6OlympiaThurston County · 56,724 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #173 of 285
7FerndaleWhatcom County · 17,559 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #201 of 285
8DuvallKing County · 9,440 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 285
9BellinghamWhatcom County · 96,395 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #225 of 285
10White SalmonKlickitat County · 2,655 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #59 of 285
11SequimClallam County · 8,215 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #232 of 285
12CheneySpokane County · 12,650 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #149 of 285
13ChewelahStevens County · 2,712 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #252 of 285
14Battle GroundClark County · 23,513 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #99 of 285
15SteilacoomPierce County · 6,648 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #66 of 285
16LeavenworthChelan County · 3,373 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 285
17ColfaxWhitman County · 2,667 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #144 of 285
18CamasClark County · 27,749 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #17 of 285
19AnacortesSkagit County · 18,080 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #72 of 285
20WashougalClark County · 18,028 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #161 of 285
21EllensburgKittitas County · 21,308 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #223 of 285
22DaytonColumbia County · 2,538 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #131 of 285
23BremertonKitsap County · 45,482 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #213 of 285
24ChehalisLewis County · 7,764 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #264 of 285
25BlaineWhatcom County · 6,475 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #247 of 285
26Medical LakeSpokane County · 4,964 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 285
27LyndenWhatcom County · 16,881 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #135 of 285
28MedinaKing County · 2,974 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 285
29WoodinvilleKing County · 14,548 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #52 of 285
30BurlingtonSkagit County · 11,356 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #268 of 285
31TumwaterThurston County · 28,010 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #133 of 285
32LongviewCowlitz County · 38,362 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #275 of 285
33SnohomishSnohomish County · 10,719 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #125 of 285
34SeattleKing County · 784,777 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #128 of 285
35Gig HarborPierce County · 12,630 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #102 of 285
36Mercer IslandKing County · 25,422 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 285
37PullmanWhitman County · 33,756 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #74 of 285
38ForksClallam County · 3,488 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #246 of 285
39ColvilleStevens County · 5,116 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #36 of 285
40EdmondsSnohomish County · 42,748 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #98 of 285
41GoldendaleKlickitat County · 3,528 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #244 of 285
42EnumclawKing County · 13,172 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #47 of 285
43PoulsboKitsap County · 12,749 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #104 of 285
44Ocean ShoresGrays Harbor County · 7,892 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #248 of 285
45SpokaneSpokane County · 230,783 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #197 of 285
46Oak HarborIsland County · 24,083 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #123 of 285
47SnoqualmieKing County · 13,640 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 285
48ClarkstonAsotin County · 7,189 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #256 of 285
49KalamaCowlitz County · 3,165 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #172 of 285
50IssaquahKing County · 39,423 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #56 of 285
51La CenterClark County · 4,433 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #211 of 285
52EversonWhatcom County · 3,254 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #93 of 285
53WoodlandCowlitz County · 6,611 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #238 of 285
54RaymondPacific County · 3,235 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #265 of 285
55HoquiamGrays Harbor County · 8,710 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #276 of 285
56KenmoreKing County · 24,249 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 285
57ChelanChelan County · 4,494 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #157 of 285
58VancouverClark County · 199,698 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #237 of 285
59RichlandBenton County · 65,258 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #109 of 285
60ShorelineKing County · 66,542 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #64 of 285
61Deer ParkSpokane County · 5,370 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #151 of 285
62CentraliaLewis County · 19,375 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #274 of 285
63Maple ValleyKing County · 28,482 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #39 of 285
64RidgefieldClark County · 16,132 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #92 of 285
65North BendKing County · 8,758 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #53 of 285
66PuyallupPierce County · 42,682 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #195 of 285
67BothellKing County · 52,199 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 285
68Walla WallaWalla Walla County · 34,058 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #239 of 285
69WenatcheeChelan County · 35,547 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #212 of 285
70MonroeSnohomish County · 20,025 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #153 of 285
71MukilteoSnohomish County · 21,239 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #81 of 285
72SammamishKing County · 66,110 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 285
73FircrestPierce County · 6,959 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #121 of 285
74WinlockLewis County · 2,640 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #207 of 285
75BurienKing County · 51,859 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #243 of 285
76Liberty LakeSpokane County · 14,029 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 285
77MiltonPierce County · 8,911 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #210 of 285
78ElmaGrays Harbor County · 3,534 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #229 of 285
79DuPontPierce County · 9,778 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #51 of 285
80AberdeenGrays Harbor County · 17,088 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #282 of 285
81TacomaPierce County · 229,816 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #234 of 285
82EatonvillePierce County · 2,861 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #118 of 285
83BellevueKing County · 154,193 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #63 of 285
84Granite FallsSnohomish County · 4,686 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #154 of 285
85Mount VernonSkagit County · 35,193 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #260 of 285
86LaceyThurston County · 58,833 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #177 of 285
87EphrataGrant County · 8,834 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #202 of 285
88KelsoCowlitz County · 12,801 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #261 of 285
89OrtingPierce County · 8,884 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #122 of 285
90Mill CreekSnohomish County · 20,902 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 285
91Port OrchardKitsap County · 19,839 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #181 of 285
92University PlacePierce County · 35,479 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #103 of 285
93West RichlandBenton County · 19,257 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 285
94Mountlake TerraceSnohomish County · 25,430 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #100 of 285
95SheltonMason County · 10,921 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #278 of 285
96SumnerPierce County · 10,871 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #159 of 285
97Sedro-WoolleySkagit County · 13,308 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #186 of 285
98CashmereChelan County · 3,326 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #38 of 285
99ArlingtonSnohomish County · 22,031 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #198 of 285
100StanwoodSnohomish County · 9,421 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #130 of 285
101RedmondKing County · 82,506 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #49 of 285
102Black DiamondKing County · 6,978 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 285
103Lake Forest ParkKing County · 13,191 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #33 of 285
104RentonKing County · 104,975 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #193 of 285
105KirklandKing County · 97,410 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 285
106YelmThurston County · 12,043 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #174 of 285
107Lake StevensSnohomish County · 42,091 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 285
108LynnwoodSnohomish County · 42,132 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #200 of 285
109BrierSnohomish County · 6,597 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #46 of 285
110Benton CityBenton County · 4,019 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #266 of 285
111Airway HeightsSpokane County · 11,811 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #254 of 285
112SunnysideYakima County · 16,430 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #270 of 285
113KennewickBenton County · 88,366 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #228 of 285
114TukwilaKing County · 22,003 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #236 of 285
115MoxeeYakima County · 4,765 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #55 of 285
116YakimaYakima County · 97,458 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #272 of 285
117Bonney LakePierce County · 22,139 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #75 of 285
118Moses LakeGrant County · 27,469 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #258 of 285
119Des MoinesKing County · 33,032 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #235 of 285
120SelahYakima County · 8,678 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #164 of 285
121LakewoodPierce County · 62,755 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #262 of 285
122EverettSnohomish County · 113,567 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #156 of 285
123Normandy ParkKing County · 6,609 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #107 of 285
124CovingtonKing County · 21,496 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #170 of 285
125MarysvilleSnohomish County · 77,686 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #185 of 285
126SeaTacKing County · 34,578 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #245 of 285
127Gold BarSnohomish County · 2,561 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #215 of 285
128ProsserBenton County · 6,654 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #222 of 285
129Spokane ValleySpokane County · 108,405 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #184 of 285
130EdgewoodPierce County · 13,548 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #132 of 285
131QuincyGrant County · 8,510 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #208 of 285
132ToppenishYakima County · 8,635 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #277 of 285
133Federal WayKing County · 99,729 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #242 of 285
134PascoFranklin County · 82,848 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #255 of 285
135NewcastleKing County · 13,128 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #57 of 285
136FifePierce County · 11,061 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #226 of 285
137AuburnKing County · 86,301 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #214 of 285
138ConnellFranklin County · 5,080 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #126 of 285
139KentKing County · 134,871 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #221 of 285
140GrangerYakima County · 3,831 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #257 of 285
141College PlaceWalla Walla County · 9,923 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #171 of 285
142GrandviewYakima County · 12,062 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #273 of 285
143Clyde HillKing County · 3,161 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 285
144AlgonaKing County · 3,253 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #140 of 285
145East WenatcheeDouglas County · 14,414 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #158 of 285
146WapatoYakima County · 4,469 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #259 of 285
147ZillahYakima County · 3,111 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #240 of 285
148Union GapYakima County · 6,617 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #281 of 285
149OthelloAdams County · 9,237 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #267 of 285
150WardenGrant County · 2,830 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #183 of 285
151PacificKing County · 7,056 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #146 of 285
152MattawaGrant County · 3,874 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall D− · #283 of 285
Not ranked

133 towns without a civic life grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Washington town has the most civic life?

Friday Harbor (San Juan County) ranks first on civic life among 152 towns, with an A+; Port Townsend and Port Angeles follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (152 in Washington). 133 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Washington page.

Go deeper

More Washington lists

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 HillBest 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 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
Other states

Towns with the most civic life in other states

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY