A man and woman walk with a scottie dog along a sidewalk near Lake Washington in Kirkland.

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
627
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 77
Demographics 51
Economy 61
Education 56
Health 64
Housing 64
Infrastructure 60

#25. Kirkland, WA

Look at where Kirkland ranked on our last Top 100 Best Places to Live list, and you might wonder, why the jump? This time around the city scored better in nearly all quality of life measures, especially social and civic engagement, housing, and economy. Residents often take walks along the downtown waterfront, which overlooks Lake Washington. Northwest University and Lake Washington Technical College contribute to the city’s cultural scene and educational system.

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