Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Tech careers, mountains and water everywhere, and no state income tax.
1. Seattle: Best overall
2. Bellevue: Best for tech careers
3. Spokane: Best value
4. Redmond: Best for families
5. Tacoma: Best for affordability near Seattle
6. Olympia: Best capital living
7. Vancouver: Best for no-income-tax living
8. Kirkland: Best waterfront suburb
9. Bellingham: Best for outdoors
10. Richland: Best sunny-side pick
Washington State pairs a powerhouse tech economy around Seattle with mountains, water, and no state income tax. The trade-offs are gray winters and high coastal prices, though value improves fast east of the Cascades. Here are the 10 best places to live in Washington, ranked.