Looking to relocate to Washington State and can’t decide which city is best for you? Washington cities have a lot to offer, no matter which one you choose. Stunning nature, high quality of life, diverse opportunities, and a thriving economy are just a few of the reasons why people are flocking to the Evergreen State.
Washington is home to the great outdoors and a dream place to live for nature lovers. Evergreen forests, mountains, rolling hills, and a beautiful coastline offer endless opportunities. The economy is booming thanks to Washington’s major industries. Washington also has no state income tax. This data comes from the US Census.
This list of the largest cities in Washington is an excellent place to start your search for a place to live that fits your family and your lifestyle. Take a few minutes and learn about the population, average income, house prices, and more in each city.
Washington State Demographics
Washington ranks 13th nationally in population and 8th in median household income. Here are some interesting facts about Washington.
- Population: 7,614,893
- Median Age: 37.9
- Median household income: $78,687
- Median price of housing: $387,600
- Area of state (square miles): 66,455.1
- Density (people per square mile): 114.6
Which of the Largest Cities in Washington is Right for You?
1. Seattle
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Seattle is the largest city in Washington and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. It’s annually ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Seattle lies between Puget Sound and Lake Washington and is the northernmost major city in the United States, only about 100 miles south of the Canadian border.
First settled by pioneers in 1851, Seattle was incorporated in 1865. The main industries were logging and shipbuilding by the late 19th century. Seattle became a technology hub in the 1980s and 90s with the establishment of companies like Microsoft and Amazon. Other large companies headquartered in Seattle include Starbucks, Nordstrom, Weyerhaeuser, Boeing, and Costco.
Seattle has a temperate climate, with cool, wet winters and mild, relatively dry summers, and is a regional center for the performing arts. It’s also home to one of the top three ballet training institutions in the United States. Grunge music became popular here in the 1990s with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Mudhoney. Classic rock bands Heart, Queensrÿche, as well as famous rock musician Jimi Hendrix, called Seattle home.
- Seattle Population: 753,655
- Seattle Area: 83.78 mi²
- Seattle Median Age: 34.7 years old
- Seattle Median Household Income: $102,486
- Seattle Median House Price: $767,000
- Seattle Density: 9,260 people per square mile
- Seattle Map
2. Spokane
The second-major city in Washington is Spokane, located in eastern Washington along the Spokane River and close to the Cascade and the Rocky Mountains. Earning the nickname Hooptown USA, Spokane annually hosts the world’s largest basketball tournament.
A trading post was set up in the area in 1810, and settlers first came in 1881 with the completion of the Northern Pacific Railway. The local economy consisted of mining, timber, and agriculture until the 1980s. Spokane was the host of the first environmentally-themed World’s Fair at Expo ’74.
Spokane has hot, dry summers and wet winters. The surrounding mountains shield the city from most of the winter cold air masses. With over 87 parks totaling 4,100 acres, six aquatic centers, and miles of trails, the city offers plenty of outdoor activities to participate in such as hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. Five ski resorts are within a few hours of Spokane offering cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding.
- Spokane Population: 222,082
- Spokane Area: 69.5 mi²
- Spokane Median Age: 37 years old
- Spokane Median Household Income: $52,447
- Spokane Median House Price: $228,500
- Spokane Density: 3,310 people per square mile
- Spokane Map
3. Tacoma
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Tacoma sits 32 miles southwest of Seattle and 58 miles northwest of Mount Rainier National Park, offering stunning views of Mount Rainier. The Northern Pacific Railroad terminated there in 1873 due to the deep-water harbor in Commencement Bay. Tacoma has the highest density of art and history museums in the state.
The city has over fifty parks and open spaces, great for walking, running, cycling, and even scuba diving. Tacoma is home to a number of universities, including the University of Washington Tacoma. The Museum of Glass is one of Tacoma’s best cultural attractions, featuring a steel cone glassblowing studio that is one of the most recognizable structures in the city.
- Tacoma Population: 217,834
- Tacoma Area: 62.42 mi²
- Tacoma Median Age: 35.9 years old
- Tacoma Median Household Income: $70,411
- Tacoma Median House Price: $344,500
- Tacoma Density: 4,447 people per square mile
- Tacoma Map
4. Vancouver
Vancouver is situated on the north bank of the Columbia River in southwest Washington along the Washington-Oregon border. It is the biggest suburb of Portland, Oregon. Established in 1825 as a fur-trading outpost called Fort Vancouver, the city was incorporated in 1857.
In the early 2000s, the local arts scene was revitalized, leading to an influx of art galleries, which are now located in the downtown arts district. Vancouver’s economy largely consists of high-tech and service industries. The Port of Vancouver, located on the Columbia River, handles more than 400 ocean-going vessels annually.
- Vancouver Population: 184,452
- Vancouver Area: 52.45 mi²
- Vancouver Median Age: 36.9 years old
- Vancouver Median Household Income: $66,679
- Vancouver Median House Price: $339,800
- Vancouver Density: 3,849 people per square mile
- Vancouver Map
5. Bellevue
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The fifth main city in Washington, Bellevue is located 10 miles east of Seattle across Lake Washington. Some of the world’s largest high-tech companies make their home in Bellevue, including Expedia, PACCAR Inc, T-Mobile, Eddie Bauer, eBay, Oracle, and Google. Bellevue topped the list of CNNMoney’s best places to live and launch a business in 2008. In 2014, the city ranked as the second-best place to live by USA Today.
When the weather conditions are favorable, the hilltops of Bellevue are great places for scenic views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.
- Bellevue Population: 148,145
- Bellevue Area: 37.51 mi²
- Bellevue Median Age: 36.5 years old
- Bellevue Median Household Income: $127,402
- Bellevue Median House Price: $920,900
- Bellevue Density: 3,827.4 people per square mile
- Bellevue Map
6. Kent
Kent is included in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metropolitan area. Settled in the 1850s as farmland, the area produced wheat, barley, oats, and hay. Kent was incorporated in 1890 with a population of 793. The city grew rapidly between 1953 to 1960, increasing its population twelve-fold.
Kent ranks 4th in the nation in manufacturing and warehousing. Amazon, Boeing, Whirlpool, and General Electric run large facilities in the city. Boeing opened the Boeing Kent Space Center in 1964. The lunar rovers used in the Apollo program were built there.
- Kent Population: 132,320
- Kent Area: 34.42 mi²
- Kent Median Age: 35.1 years old
- Kent Median Household Income: $81,423
- Kent Median House Price: $413,600
- Kent Density: 3,955 people per square mile
- Kent Map
7. Everett
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Everett is part of the Seattle metropolitan area, situated 25 miles north of Seattle on a peninsula at the mouth of the Snohomish River along Port Gardner Bay. Loggers and homesteaders first arrived in the area in the 1860s. The city was incorporated in 1893 after the arrival of the Great Northern Railway. Several large sawmills sprang up, and Everett prospered as a major lumber center. With the construction of Boeing’s aircraft assembly plant at Paine Field in 1967, Everett transitioned from lumber towards aerospace.
The city of Everett has more than 40 parks, trails, golf courses, and playgrounds, consisting of 693 acres of land, and offers sports leagues, swimming, hiking, and classes on cooking and gardening. Everett also has several miles of public shoreline with beaches, boat launches, and a large marina.
- Everett Population: 111,489
- Everett Area: 47.91 mi²
- Everett Median Age: 36 years old
- Everett Median Household Income: $64,183
- Everett Median House Price: $385,400
- Everett Density: 3,358.59 people per square mile
- Everett Map
8. Renton
Renton ranks as the eighth-biggest city in Washington. Over 2,000 software companies are located in the city within a 30-mile radius. Renton also has over 2,800 acres of parks and playgrounds and excellent schools.
Renton is situated 11 miles southeast of downtown Seattle on the southeast shore of Lake Washington. First settled in the 1860s, Renton’s economy was based on coal mining, clay production, and timber export.
The Boeing Renton Factory first manufactured the B-29 Superfortress during World War II and now builds 737 airliners. Boeing is Renton’s largest employer, with more than 10,000 employees. Other major manufacturing, technology, and healthcare employers in the city include Paccar, Kaiser Permanente, IKEA, Providence Health & Services, UW Medicine, and Wizards of the Coast.
- Renton Population: 101,747
- Renton Area: 23.54 mi²
- Renton Median Age: 36.2 years old
- Renton Median Household Income: $80,310
- Renton Median House Price: $461,800
- Renton Density:: 4,339 people per square mile
- Renton Map
9. Spokane Valley
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The City of Spokane Valley borders Spokane to the west. Outdoor opportunities abound here, including hiking, cycling, skiing, and numerous water sports on the Spokane River, which meanders through the town. With 260 days of sunshine a year, Spokane Valley allows plenty of time to enjoy the local parks and trails.
The city was incorporated in 2003 and hosts several events every year, such as the Spokane County Interstate Fair, Valleyfest, and the Inland Northwest Craft Beer Festival. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is located here, housing regional exhibits on art, culture, and Native American heritage. Riverfront Park, the site of the 1974 World’s Fair, includes a sculpture walk and cable car that offers views above Spokane Falls.
- Spokane Valley Population: 101,075
- Spokane Valley Area: 38.01 mi²
- Spokane Valley Median Age: 37.5 years old
- Spokane Valley Median Household Income: $57,513
- Spokane Valley Median House Price: $239,900
- Spokane Valley Density: 2,679.22 people per square mile
- Spokane Valley Map
10. Federal Way
Our final city on the list is Federal Way, which started as a logging settlement in the late 1880s. It was incorporated in 1990 and is a suburb of Seattle. Federal Way was home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world, until 2014. The city includes two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Bonsai Museum. World Vision International is based in Federal Way.
The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center was used for the 1990 Goodwill Games and the 2012 US Olympic Swim & Dive Trials. Federal Way has many lakefront and neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and trails. The largest amusement park in the area, Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, opened in 1977 on the south side of the city.
- Federal Way Population: 96,297
- Federal Way Area: 23.7 mi²
- Federal Way Median Age: 33.5 years old
- Federal Way Median Household Income: $64,263
- Federal Way Median House Price: $372,800
- Federal Way Density: 4,280 people per square mile
- Federal Way Map
FAQs
How many cities are there in Washington?
There are 281 cities in Washington.
What is the most populous city in Washington?
Seattle is the most populous city in Washington.
How many people live in Washington?
7.615 million people live in Washington.
Largest Cities in Washington Map
Washington also has many great places to live that aren’t on the list. Whether your taste is the big city or a small town, Washington offers a lot of great choices for you.
When it’s time for your relocation to Washington, our team of Washington movers will be here to help. Our professional crew at All Ready Moving & Storage knows these areas very well, and we can make your move as stress-free as possible! Give us a call today at 360-507-2447 to learn about our moving services, or fill out our Request a Quote form above to get a free moving estimate!
