America’s 13th Best Small City to Live is in Washington

The state of Washington was recently named by US News and World Report as the second-best state to live in. 

We have ocean beaches, a rainforest, plenty of farmland, world-class islands to get away and recharge, and two rugged mountain ranges. 

Besides the hustle and bustle of Seattle, and the Puget Sound area, Washington offers great small towns to raise your family.

Washington Has Some Great Options for Small City Living

If living in a smaller city is something that you are considering there are several great options in Washington that made WalletHub's list of Best Small Cities in America. 

Scroll down to see all of Washington’s Top 20 small cities - including four east of the Cascade Mountains.

Washington’s top-rated small city comes in at #13. WalletHub grouped cities by percentile. The 99th percentile represents the top 1 percent of small cities in America.

Washington is Home to the Thirteenth Best Small City in the U.S.

Redmond, WA (Top rated in Washington)

Redmond, WA is currently (2024) the 13th-best city to live in America according to WalletHub's study. Lexington is in the 99th percentile and received a total score of 68.63. Here's a breakdown of Redmond’s score:

• Total Score: 68.63
• Affordability: 546
• Economic Health: 3
• Education & Health: 93
• Quality of Life: 141
• Safety: 382

Redmond is home to Microsoft’s world headquarters. It’s also home to Digi Pen University - the hardest in-state college to get into. Redmond’s DigiPen Institute of Technology only admitted 38% of its applicants in 2023 - more selective than getting accepted to Seattle’s University of Washington. 

Living in Redmond gives you a suburban life - while only being 15 miles, across Lake Washington, from Seattle. 

Washington’s Other Highly Rated Small Cities

Sammamish, WA (2nd rated in WA)

Sammamish is rated as America’s 40th best small city.

Issaquah, WA (3rd rated in WA)

Issaquah is rated the 59th best small city in America.

Kirkland, WA (4th rated in WA)

Kirkland comes in as the 92nd-best small city.

Bothell, WA (5th rated in WA)

Bothel is the 96th-rated small city in the 2024 WalletHub study.

Mercer Island, WA (6th rated in WA)

Mercer Island is rated the 107th best small city in America.

Bellingham, WA (7th rated in WA)

Rated 190th best small city in America.

Olympia, WA (8th rated in WA)

194th in America

Edmonds, WA (9th rated in WA)

237th best small city in America

Richland, WA (10th rated in WA)

265th best small city in America

Washington’s Next Ten Best Small Cities

Lacey, WA

Wenatchee, WA

Bremerton, WA

Lake Stevens, WA

Walla Walla, WA

SeaTac, WA

Shoreline, WA

Lynnwood, WA

Auburn, WA

Kennewick, WA

Find Out Where Your Washington City Ranked by Clicking on WalletHub’s Study