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Washington : What you need to know
Approximately 60 percent of Washington residents live in the Seattle metro area. Among the other best places to live in Washington are Bellevue, Renton, Bellingham, Olympia, Redmond, Tacoma and Vancouver. Washington is a leading agricultural state along with industries such as aircraft, computer software, telecommunications and lumber, and residents enjoy a variety of outdoor recreational choices like Mount Rainier National Park and the Puget Sound. Top universities include Washington, Washington State and Eastern Washington.
Courtesy of Jonathan Miske under a CC 4.0 license.
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Attractions include Mount Rainier, Space Needle, whales
There are many reasons why this Pacific Northwest state is one of the most popular in the country right now. Here are eight of them.
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Read More About Washington
- From the best dining spots to the greatest bargains, Seattle locals know where to go.
- A booming economy, incredible food and music are just three things this Pacific Northwest city has to offer.
- Lace up your hiking boots and get ready for the walks of a lifetime.
- The Pacific Northwest gives us Aplets & Cotlets, Sunbreaks, the Seahawks and so much more. Here are 12 reasons why residents love their PNW.
- Ensuring a pipeline of workers with the heavy technical skills the aerospace and aviation industry requires has spurred some innovative workforce development partnerships around the country.
- Brown & Haley celebrates 100 years of sweet success with its famous candy in the pink tin.
- Washington state's excellent quality of life and thriving business climate are attracting new residents ““ and even luring former residents back to the Evergreen State.
- Washington state is a manufacturing powerhouse with more than 7,000 companies employing almost 260,000 workers engaged in making products for the industries for which the state is renowned, including advanced products for the aerospace, marine craft and forestry industries.
- Pioneers including Microsoft, Amazon.com and RealNetworks led the way but gaming, RFID, health care IT, mobile products, online services, interactive media, software development and communications are transforming Washington State - and every industry the technology touches.
Featured Cities in Washington
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Quick Facts about WA
| Population | 6,985,464 |
| Latest Population Increase | 0.00% |
| Median Household Income | $61,062 |
| Median Home Price | $259,500 |
| Median Property Tax | $1,731 |
| Median Rent | $63 |
Employment Rate in WA
| Employed | 94.7% | |
| Unemployed | 5.3% |
Featured Cities/Population in WA
| Issaquah, WA | 33,682 |
| Bellevue, WA | 134,630 |
| Tacoma, WA | 203,481 |
| Redmond, WA | 57,959 |
| Everett, WA | 105,685 |
| Spokane, WA | 210,695 |
| Olympia, WA | 48,941 |
| Bellingham, WA | 82,944 |
| Vancouver, WA | 168,050 |
| Renton, WA | 97,234 |
Race in WA
| Ethnicity White | 77.8% | |
| Ethnicity Black | 3.6% | |
| Ethnicity Asian | 7.7% | |
| Ethnicity Hawaiian | 0.6% | |
| Ethnicity Hispanic | 12% | |
| Ethnicity Indian | 1.3% | |
| Ethnicity Other | 3.8% |
Employment Rate in WA
| Employed | 94.7% | |
| Unemployed | 5.3% |
Educational Levels in WA
| Bachelor's Degree | 20.9% | |
| Associate's Degree | 9.8% | |
| Graduate or Professional Degree | 12% | |
| High School Graduate | 23.3% | |
| Some College, No Degree | 24.6% | |
| Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | |
| Percent High School Graduate or Higher | 90.4% |
Industry in WA
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting and Mining | 2.6% |
| Construction | 6.1% |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% |
| Wholesale Trade | 2.9% |
| Retail Trade | 11.8% |
| Transportation and Warehousing, and Utilities | 5.2% |
| Information | 2.3% |
| Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 5.4% |
| Professional, Scientific and Management and Administrative and Waste | 12.3% |
| Educational Services and Health Care and Social Assistance | 21.5% |
| Arts, Entertainment and recreation and Accommodation and food Services | 9.3% |
| Other Services, Except Public Administration | 4.8% |
| Public Administration | 5.3% |
Housing in WA
| Homes Rent | 62.5% | |
| Homes Owned | 37.5% |
Data Sources : U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 2010 Census Gazetteer, GreatSchools, WalkScore, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Washington Rankings
Best places to Live in Washington
| Title | Population | Median Home Price | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 653,017 | $452,800 | $70,594 |
| Spokane | 210,695 | $159,400 | $42,386 |
| Tacoma | 203,481 | $203,600 | $52,042 |
| Vancouver | 168,050 | $200,100 | $50,626 |
| Bellevue | 134,630 | $562,000 | $94,638 |
| Kent | 124,292 | $250,900 | $60,191 |
| Everett | 105,685 | $230,800 | $49,578 |
| Renton | 97,234 | $291,300 | $64,802 |
| Yakima | 93,261 | $156,700 | $40,726 |
| Federal Way | 92,859 | $245,800 | $55,673 |
| Spokane Valley | 92,286 | $168,400 | $47,430 |
| Kirkland | 84,721 | $436,400 | $92,127 |
| Bellingham | 82,944 | $285,900 | $43,536 |
| Kennewick | 76,918 | $170,800 | $51,661 |
| Auburn | 74,527 | $233,400 | $59,347 |
| Pasco | 67,391 | $163,300 | $55,319 |
| Marysville | 63,760 | $228,300 | $65,434 |
| Lakewood | 59,122 | $209,100 | $44,902 |
| Redmond | 57,959 | $485,100 | $103,409 |
| South Hill | 55,592 | $236,700 | $75,241 |