Washington
Among the top 6% of US states for weather.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 20% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade A, better than 94% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 45% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 70% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 90% of US states
- top 1% for broadband access
- top 8% for comfortable days
- bottom 2% for property crime
Washington is a U.S. state with about 7,689,000 residents. It grades A for weather and D for affordability. Standout strengths include broadband access, comfortable days, and income tax. It rates lower on sales tax and property crime.
Official websitewa.gov (opens in new tab)
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$93k86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$60kbetter than 20% of US states
Home Value$519k92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 16% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 14% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.86%better than 51% of US states
Income Tax0.06%better than 90% of US states
Sales Tax9.38%better than 6% of US states
Estimated total tax burden7.79%better than 84% of US states
Unemployment5.0%better than 61% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)40°F71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)67°F2nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation41.8 in43rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall11.2 inbetter than 65% of US states
Sunny Days218 daysbetter than 49% of US states
Summer Humidity51°Fbetter than 84% of US states
Comfortable Days101 daysbetter than 92% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk92.8better than 18% of US states
Air Quality39 AQIbetter than 86% of US states
School Quality80.9better than 80% of US states
Violent Crime1138/100kbetter than 56% of US states
Property Crime3342/100kbetter than 2% of US states
Community
Population7,688,54976th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.231st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4757th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0282nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1920th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)65.5%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)3.8%31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)13.5%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)9.1%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)8.1%88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time27 minbetter than 22% of US states
Walkability10.5/20better than 80% of US states
Airport Distance42 mibetter than 75% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.1%better than 99% of US states
Amenities Nearby1.53better than 20% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 86% of US states
Frequently asked questions
- Is Washington an affordable place to live?
- Washington is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $60k, better than 20% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Washington?
- The median home value in Washington is $519k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Washington?
- Median household income in Washington is $93k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Washington?
- Median gross rent in Washington is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Washington safe?
- Washington is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1138/100k (better than 56%). Property crime is 3342/100k.
- What is the weather like in Washington?
- Washington averages 67°F in July and 40°F in January, with 41.8 in of annual precipitation and about 218 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Washington?
- Public-school quality in Washington is above average, scoring better than 80% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Washington?
- The average one-way commute in Washington is 27 min.
Best places to live in Washington
Top cities in Washington
Counties in Washington
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)