countyscore

Best Counties for Retirement in Washington 2026

39 counties ranked by health care, safety, tax burden, and affordability.

Top 5 Retirement Counties in Washington

1Wahkiakum County
69.1
2Skamania County
57.7
3San Juan County
55.4
4Stevens County
55.1
5Ferry County
58

All 39 Retirement-Ranked Counties in Washington

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Wahkiakum County, WA7069.1
2Skamania County, WA6557.7
3San Juan County, WA6555.4
4Stevens County, WA6555.1
5Ferry County, WA6258
6Island County, WA6050.7
7Lincoln County, WA6060.9
8Klickitat County, WA5952.7
9Whitman County, WA5449.8
10Garfield County, WA5354.4
11Jefferson County, WA5248.6
12Pend Oreille County, WA5154.7
13Pacific County, WA4845.7
14Kittitas County, WA4641.8
15Snohomish County, WA4541.6
16Okanogan County, WA4545.9
17Asotin County, WA4445
18Douglas County, WA4445.1
19King County, WA4439.4
20Chelan County, WA4341.9
21Kitsap County, WA4340.1
22Clallam County, WA4340.4
23Whatcom County, WA4238
24Columbia County, WA4244.8
25Thurston County, WA4237.7
26Clark County, WA4138.2
27Mason County, WA4040.1
28Skagit County, WA3937.3
29Spokane County, WA3936.8
30Benton County, WA3736.8
31Walla Walla County, WA3736.9
32Lewis County, WA3637.2
33Pierce County, WA3533.7
34Grays Harbor County, WA3536.2
35Cowlitz County, WA3536
36Adams County, WA3037.4
37Franklin County, WA3034.3
38Grant County, WA2932.8
39Yakima County, WA2530.4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for retirement in Washington?

Based on our analysis of health care access, safety, property taxes, and cost of living, Wahkiakum County ranks as the top retirement county in Washington with a retirement score of 70.

How many counties in Washington are ranked for retirement?

We rank 39 counties in Washington for retirement suitability, scoring each on health care access (35%), safety (30%), property tax (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse Washington Counties For

FamiliesRemote WorkersBest Overall

Retirement Rankings by State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.