The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Washington
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 151 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Washington. #1 is Fox Island, WA.
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25Meadow Glade, Washington
Better for retirees than 81% of Washington towns
2,758 people · Clark County · median home $650,300 · income $129,427 · Jan low 32°F · 1 in snow
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24Rosedale, Washington
Better for retirees than 83% of Washington towns
4,357 people · Pierce County · median home $887,600 · income $158,800 · Jan low 36°F · 0 in snow
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23Clyde Hill, Washington
Better for retirees than 84% of Washington towns
3,126 people · King County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 37°F · 4 in snow
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22Canterwood, Washington
Better for retirees than 85% of Washington towns
3,572 people · Pierce County · median home $892,400 · income $159,808 · Jan low 36°F · 0 in snow
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21Port Hadlock-Irondale, Washington
Better for retirees than 85% of Washington towns
3,983 people · Jefferson County · median home $351,600 · income $83,548 · Jan low 38°F · 1 in snow
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20Goldendale, Washington
Better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns
3,453 people · Klickitat County · median home $199,300 · income $39,783 · Jan low 24°F · 27 in snow
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19Chelan, Washington
Better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns
4,222 people · Chelan County · median home $518,000 · income $82,637 · Jan low 22°F · 21 in snow
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18Ocean Shores, Washington
Better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns
6,715 people · Grays Harbor County · median home $383,500 · income $58,202 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow
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17Sequim, Washington
Better for retirees than 87% of Washington towns
8,024 people · Clallam County · median home $408,700 · income $59,707 · Jan low 32°F · 1 in snow
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16High Bridge, Washington
Better for retirees than 89% of Washington towns
3,140 people · Snohomish County · median home $963,700 · income $167,337 · Jan low 32°F · 3 in snow
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15Longbranch, Washington
Better for retirees than 89% of Washington towns
4,141 people · Pierce County · median home $396,000 · income $95,768 · Jan low 36°F · 2 in snow
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14Sudden Valley, Washington
Better for retirees than 89% of Washington towns
6,354 people · Whatcom County · median home $489,200 · income $100,930 · Jan low 35°F · 3 in snow
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13Mirrormont, Washington
Better for retirees than 90% of Washington towns
3,858 people · King County · median home $973,900 · income $181,842 · Jan low 33°F · 4 in snow
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12Maplewood, Washington
Better for retirees than 90% of Washington towns
5,469 people · Pierce County · median home $708,300 · income $135,943 · Jan low 36°F · 0 in snow
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11Clarkston Heights-Vineland, Washington
Better for retirees than 91% of Washington towns
7,275 people · Asotin County · median home $385,900 · income $101,286 · Jan low 30°F · 13 in snow
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10Geneva, Washington
Better for retirees than 92% of Washington towns
2,652 people · Whatcom County · median home $801,100 · income $142,188 · Jan low 35°F · 3 in snow
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9Sunnyslope, Washington
Better for retirees than 92% of Washington towns
4,041 people · Chelan County · median home $714,200 · income $135,769 · Jan low 26°F · 17 in snow
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8Kingston, Washington
Better for retirees than 93% of Washington towns
2,515 people · Kitsap County · median home $585,300 · income $90,625 · Jan low 37°F · 3 in snow
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7Hansville, Washington
Better for retirees than 93% of Washington towns
3,410 people · Kitsap County · median home $597,000 · income $92,426 · Jan low 37°F · 2 in snow
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6Big Lake, Washington
Better for retirees than 94% of Washington towns
2,980 people · Skagit County · median home $666,400 · income $109,286 · Jan low 35°F · 6 in snow
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5Port Ludlow, Washington
Better for retirees than 96% of Washington towns
2,959 people · Jefferson County · median home $635,600 · income $96,103 · Jan low 38°F · 2 in snow
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4Colville, Washington
Better for retirees than 96% of Washington towns
4,917 people · Stevens County · median home $281,500 · income $56,558 · Jan low 23°F · 43 in snow
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3Colfax, Washington
Better for retirees than 97% of Washington towns
2,782 people · Whitman County · median home $245,300 · income $61,914 · Jan low 26°F · 33 in snow
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2Friday Harbor, Washington
Better for retirees than 98% of Washington towns
2,613 people · San Juan County · median home $570,400 · income $80,378 · Jan low 37°F · 6 in snow
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1Fox Island, Washington
Better for retirees than 98% of Washington towns
3,921 people · Pierce County · median home $1,003,900 · income $172,292 · Jan low 36°F · 0 in snow
Price vs ranking
More Washington rankings
- The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Washington
- The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Washington
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Washington
- The 11 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Washington
- 25 Small Towns in Washington With the Cheapest Homes
- 25 Small Towns in Washington With the Mildest Winters
- The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Washington
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Washington
- The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Washington
- The 14 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Washington
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)