2021 Best Places to Retire in Washington

Woodway

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: Perfect. Would never move.Read 11 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• grade A+

• 1,105 Population

Clyde Hill

• Suburb of Seattle, WA

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 3,329 Population

Port Townsend

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.48 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: Mayberry RFD with a mix of organic farmers, musicians busking on street corners, aging hippies, artists in community and potlucks. If that sounds appealing you'll like it here. Bring your job with you. Bring lodging too as it's in short supply due to the demand from retirees moving here or buying 2nd homes. Too many empty residences during the winter. Otherwise good educated community with a love of movies, sailing, wooden boats and camping in the great outdoors. Open mindedness welcome. Racist supporters of Tic Tac not welcome... they're in Sequin...Read 40 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 9,551 Population

Ocean Shores

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.56 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: We love it here! Nice small town with strong sense of community. Safe, clean, friendly, roads well maintained, plenty of things to do, yet nice and quiet. Summer time weekends get a bit over busy but nice to see the visitors and then embrace the quiet times when they all leave...May not be for all - everyone should really evaluate all things before considering moving here. Probably not ideal for younger people living, or older people with support needs. We are in our 50's and 60', healthy & active - it's perfect for us. For us it really is the best of all world's...Small area but a real difference between east side, west side, jetty area or near marina - something different for everyone. Oceanfront, wooded, lake front or bay front - each a real difference in their own way...Living here allows to detach from all the external crap and breath fresh air in a moderate climate. Lots are small if you are looking for elbow room, homes can be fairly close together.Read 18 Reviews

• grade C

• grade C

• grade A

• 5,975 Population

Colfax

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.62 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: I enjoy Colfax because it is a quaint town with a very family friendly atmosphere. It is within close proximity of multiple universities, restaurants, and parks.Read 21 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 2,891 Population

South Bend

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• grade C+

• grade A

• 1,500 Population

Wollochet

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.6 out of 5  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

• grade B

• grade B+

• grade A

• 6,365 Population

Raymond

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: The thing I like about Raymond WA is how our community supports one another. We strive to build strong community to provide a great living environment we call home. Raymond has always been apart of a safe, friendly, and supportive town. The smiles we see everyday makes this town unique. No other town or city could beat this small town. Raymond, WA will always feel like home...Read 17 Reviews

• grade B

• grade C

• grade A

• 2,918 Population

Anacortes

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.95 out of 5  55 reviews

Current Resident: Anacortes is a great town to grow up in. It is a small, family-oriented town and is surrounded by beautiful areas to see. There are tons of town events, close-knit activities and clubs and the schools get opportunities and resources. We are on an island so it is a pretty place! we are surrounded by the ocean so you have beaches and there are many activities to do like hiking, biking, and skiing...Read 55 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• grade A

• 16,977 Population

Blaine

• Town in Washington
• Rating 4.18 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: LOVE living in Blaine! As a NY transplant, it took a bit of time for me to adjust to the slow pace. But once I did, I was hooked. It’s fairly quiet, fairly friendly, and the weather is great. Being from the Northeast, I find the winter to be quite mild and love rarely having to deal with snow. And I can count on one hand the days I need to turn on my air conditioner In the summer which is wonderful. Summers are amazing, (unless it’s a bad wildfire year). I’ve been here ten years and have seen the town blossom. I expect that I am here to stay...Read 17 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 5,313 Population

Normandy Park

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.89 out of 5  27 reviews

Current Resident: My favorite thing about living in Normandy Park is how interconnected the entire neighborhood is. The neighborhood is fairly small, allowing neighbors to easily connect with one another. I also love our local beach park, the Cove. It's a quaint beach park that's for locals. It boasts views of the beautiful Puget Sound and is home to an estuary that has lots of salmon come by in the fall...Read 27 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 6,670 Population

Lofall

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 1,973 Population

Hoquiam

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.41 out of 5  34 reviews

Current Resident: Hoquiam Washington is a small town compared to most. Sports are a big deal in our town. So are hobbies! Everyone has something that they enjoy doing, such as fishing, hunting, riding horses, working out, and many more! One downfall to the town is that there are not very many restaurants and or fast food options. The schools in Hoquiam are pretty close together. All teachers are very interested in each and every one of there students...Read 34 Reviews

• grade B

• grade C

• grade A minus

• 8,495 Population

Cosmopolis

• Town in Washington
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Cosi is a small neighborhood where everybody knows everybody else. It's pretty safe, not very many crimes happen there. We have two restaurants and a gas station, plus a nice little coffee place that has events...Read 1 Review

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• grade A minus

• 1,610 Population

Sunnyslope

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

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 3,704 Population

Bainbridge Island

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.81 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: Bainbridge Island is a great place to live! The education here is above expectations - especially the public schools. Food here could be improved, but poulsbo supplies additional options. The downside is frankly the Bainbridge islanders Facebook page - people with too much time on their hands! But otherwise I’m very happy to have chosen this place to live. So many extracurricular activities here, well maintained roads, city planned events (such as the Fourth of July parade!), etc...Read 48 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• 24,486 Population

Dayton

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: An excellent and welcoming little town with a lot of history and opportunities for exploration. A wonderful place to be!Read 7 Reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• grade A minus

• 2,656 Population

Chelan

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.69 out of 5  13 reviews

Former Resident: I raised my kids in Lake Chelan and it was an amazing experience for the whole family. Since Chelan is a smaller town, it was easy to communicate with schools, local businesses, and local government. Chelan is located on a 55 mile long lake and surrounding mountains that offer lots of outdoor recreation. There are many organizations you can be a part of. Chelan also hosts a lot of events to keep things interesting all year for all types of interests. A wonderful place to live or just vacation at...Read 13 Reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 4,146 Population

Fords Prairie

• Town in Washington

• grade B minus

• grade C

• grade A minus

• 2,662 Population

Canterwood

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 3,218 Population

Goldendale

• Town in Washington
• Rating 2.9 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet community with lots of wildlife. Friendly people who come together during times of crisis like the COVID-19. If parents are willing to have children involved in organizations, there are 4-H clubs, service organizations, sports teams, and youth groups to keep the children active...Read 10 Reviews

• grade B

• grade C

• grade A minus

• 3,459 Population

Maplewood

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.64 out of 5  14 reviews

Niche User: There is minimal crime, except an occasional burglary.Read 14 Reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 5,072 Population

North Puyallup

• Suburb of Seattle, WA
• Rating 3.89 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: There's a lot to do around here. There is a lot of traffic, especially right after school and on weekends, but its a good distance to many great attractions and isn't too far from Seattle.Read 9 Reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 1,930 Population

Birch Bay

• Town in Washington
• Rating 3.5 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: Birch Bay is a great place to live. The people are very friendly and you can strike up a conversation with anyone. It's very "mayberry" in the small town sense but there is that rural feeling. Your not going to find early morning breakfast except at the gas stations or the only corner store in Birch Bay. If your looking for food past 10pm there is one 24 hour gas station in Birch Bay, otherwise be prepared to dive at least 15 to 30 minutes. If you plan to live in Birch Bay exspect a commute for one reason or another, I recommend having a car. The bus services has improved in terms of frequent stops. You don't have to wait a year for the only two departures and arrivals. However, you better know the bus schedules because you will be waiting for the next. The beach access is great but can be difficult during certain events organized by Birch Bay's Chamber of Commerce. Those really nice hot days and the 4th of July can draw a crowd. It's not fast paced or a place to party. Geat place!...Read 20 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 9,323 Population

Ocean Park

• Town in Washington
• Rating 2.57 out of 5  7 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 7 Reviews

• grade C

• grade C

• grade A minus

• 1,745 Population