2019 Best Places to Retire in WashingtonAbout this List

Woodway

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 10 reviews

Parent: Perfect. Would never move.
Read 10 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A

• 1,289 Population

Colfax

• Town in Washington
• 19 reviews

Current Resident: Colfax is a great little town with a population of about 3,000 people give or take a hundred. I grew up in the local school district with excellent teachers, peers, and an education. Most people in Colfax are huge fans of high school sports, and since Washington State University is only 20 minutes away, college sports. Everyone is good at a large variety of things, since most of our students are both athletes, scholars, parts of clubs, and in the music program. It's a great place to grow up and I have a great foundation because of it.
Read 19 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A

• 2,853 Population

Clyde Hill

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• A+

• A+

• A

• 3,231 Population

Ocean Shores

• Town in Washington
• 9 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Ocean Shores since I was about 4, so about 13 years now. It's always been a friendly community. The average age here is probably closer to people in their 60's, so it's a pretty calm town. I grew up being involved in many sports when I was younger, having the local parents coach the teams so lots of families have always been involved. The people in this town are connected for the most part since it's a small town. It's a nice place to live.
Read 9 Reviews

• C

• C-

• A

• 5,714 Population

Port Townsend

• Town in Washington
• 33 reviews

Nearby Resident: It's quaint, beautiful and historical! Fast food to five star restaurants! Gift shops galore! Plenty of bed and breakfast or hotels to choose from. Even a castle!
Read 33 Reviews

• A-

• B+

• A

• 9,315 Population

Anacortes

• Town in Washington
• 48 reviews

Current Resident: A small town filled with progressive, and open minded individuals. Lot's of art, nature, and community events. People truly support the local businesses here and it shows with a vibrant downtown area.
Read 48 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A

• 16,425 Population

Wollochet

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 5 reviews

Niche User: This is a great area to live during middle age and on. There are great places to live with beautiful views if you have a lot of money. If you are thinking of raising kids here there is so much nature to explore. Crime rates are low, but the city council is filled with curmudgeons who wont even allow a bowling alley to be built. Going to school here is about the same as anywhere else. Progressively throughout the school grades we will have the rich kids getting into trouble with alcohol, and weed was pervasive before legalization. A lot of high school grads will want to get out of Gig Harbor where there is nothing fun to do except play video games at home, and go to Tacoma, where there are many fun things to do and see like arcades, shopping, and the like. The truth is Gig Harbor's boutiques all have a maritime theme and people are tired of it. Old people love it here though. There are 5 old people homes that I can think of, some with specialty care for Alzheimers patients. As far as ecology, a lot of money has been put into restoration from the pollution of the 70's. The sea life has been coming back all over because the water and air are much cleaner. It is spectacular to see.
Read 5 Reviews

• B+

• B+

• A

• 6,291 Population

Enetai

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 1 review

Niche User: Bremerton is a diverse town. Although there are many people here who are employed by the military or the shipyard, there is much more to our town than just that. There are many different types of people who live here.
Read 1 Review

• B+

• C+

• A

• 2,231 Population

Fords Prairie

• Town in Washington

• C+

• C

• A

• 1,812 Population

Sunnyslope

• Town in Washington
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: Very safe and beautiful area with great schools. Not much diversity though, and the drive to the high school can be a real pain. Other than that, I’m thankful to live in such a nice part of town. Parts of Wenatchee look like a 3rd world country and this place is so different.
Read 2 Reviews

• A-

• B

• A

• 3,641 Population

Gig Harbor

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 81 reviews

Current Resident: I am speaking of around the Gig Harbor downtown waterfront to Raft Island. It's a wonderful place full of wonderful people who live here year round. There is plenty of diversity and different income levels here in Gig! The tourists are welcome and everyone enjoys the waterfront restaurants and shops. However, there are always a few negative types that are always in a rush and ruin it for others with their impatient horn blaring or ignoring speed limits. Gig Harbor is a slow pace lifestyle. People walk their dogs, ride bikes, and jog on the roads. People wave to each other and smile here no matter who your are! Conservatives and Liberals live together here. If you are in a hurry, you won't be happy here. People who don't like diversity end up moving. So come and embrace the slow living lifestyle of Gig Harbor and you will enjoy your time here.
Read 81 Reviews

• A-

• B+

• A

• 8,651 Population

Normandy Park

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 25 reviews

Current Resident: Normandy Park is a safe neighborhood between Seattle and Tacoma. Some parts have a lot of kids and some parts are more elderly. There are many amenities such as a grocery store, salons, and pools. There a couple of beaches too, the cove being the most popular with teenagers. It’s a great hangout with fire pits and benches.
Read 25 Reviews

• A-

• B

• A-

• 6,634 Population

Lofall

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 1 review

• B+

• B+

• A-

• 2,211 Population

College Place

• Town in Washington
• 45 reviews

Niche User: I moved to College Place, WA this last summer as a freshman college student to attend Walla Walla University. This is a Seventh-Day Adventist University in a Seventh-Day Adventist community. This is probably my favorite aspect about College Place. It seems like the whole community is focused on God and each other. The people are great, all smiling and greeting each other most of the time. The weather is pretty mild and enjoyable too. The fall weather is nice and cool with a lot of colors. The winter can be anywhere from rainy, snowy, gray and depressing to sunny and crisp. Spring is gorgeous with lots of flowers and green grass and warm weather. Summer is warm, but not overwhelmingly hot although it is somewhat lonely because all the college students are gone for the most part. The country side is pretty beautiful. Although, being from Sandpoint, ID, I miss the mountains, big lake and trees and forests. There are always some downsides to every place. Just like every town there is still the rundown, ghetto-like areas of College Place that are often ignored and pushed to the side. It also get foggy some times and that fog has a disgusting stench that is carried over from them pulp mills not far away. But for the most part it's a wonderful beautiful town with wonderful beautiful people!
Read 45 Reviews

• B+

• C

• A-

• 9,041 Population

Bainbridge Island

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 33 reviews

Current Resident: I was born in California, and moved frequently throughout my childhood. I have lived in small farming towns and coastal cities, downtown communities and tiny backwoods neighborhoods; but nowhere I have lived has left such an impression on me as Bainbridge Island has. The Island, though small, is a vibrant, beautiful place covered in soaring green forests and bordered by stunning rocky beaches. As a community the Island is extremely safe, with a fantastic education system and public parks teeming with camps and clubs in the summertime. The Island is an affluent suburb of Seattle, but has its own strong character and individual identity. Without a doubt, I have grown and flourished on this Island, and its culture will always be a part of me.
Read 33 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 23,689 Population

Edmonds

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 70 reviews

Current Resident: Edmonds is a great place to live! A perfect balance of population size leads to medium-size neighborhoods and reasonable pricing for everyday goods. Edmonds is a very well-rounded city that is adaptive to almost all types of people. From shopping, sightseeing, physical activity, and nightlife, Edmonds has something for everyone.
Read 70 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A-

• 41,309 Population

Ocean Park

• Town in Washington
• 6 reviews

Current Resident: Ocean Park is perfect for a retiree. Like me! Definitely small town USA. Although places do close early on the Peninsula there are lots of activities available...again for older people. Want to be in a play? Wanna dance? Wanna play music? You can find it here. Looking for people with common interests? Sports? Check out the Eagles or the Moose. Hobbies, crafts, lots of offerings locally and through the wonderful Senior Center. There is a lack of opportunity for young families. Mainly service jobs and finding a rental can be difficult.
Read 6 Reviews

• C-

• C

• A-

• 1,782 Population

North Puyallup

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 4 reviews

Nearby Resident: I love the old town feel of North Puyallup. It feels like country but has a close proximity to Federal Way and Tacoma. The only thing I'd change is the building moratorium. I think it's a shame that all the beautiful land is being torn up to accommodate for storage areas & apartment complexes.
Read 4 Reviews

• B

• B

• A-

• 1,848 Population

Chico

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• A

• A

• A-

• 2,635 Population

Ruston

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• A-

• B

• A-

• 1,007 Population

Raymond

• Town in Washington
• 13 reviews

Current Resident: Hi, the thing I like best is that the entire school will support you if you do something well. Favoritism can be a problem in the school itself, but every kid can participate in something.
Read 13 Reviews

• B

• C+

• A-

• 2,847 Population

Dayton

• Town in Washington
• 6 reviews

• B

• B-

• A-

• 2,720 Population

Cosmopolis

• Town in Washington

• B-

• C+

• A-

• 1,593 Population

Poulsbo

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• 46 reviews

Current Resident: A quaint, clean, and friendly place to live! We love it here. There is beauty everywhere, shopping, safe neighborhoods, good people that are kind and inviting,
Read 46 Reviews

• A-

• B+

• A-

• 10,005 Population

Yarrow Point

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 1,184 Population