Study: Best Cities to Raise a Family in Washington

Washington has the winning combo of family-friendly activities, decent commutes, and inexpensive housing for young families. Read on to find the 10 best cities to raise a family in Washington.

Study Methodology

We based our findings on the following factors:

1. Education
   
2. Commute
   
3. Companionship/existence of other families
   
4. Community stability
   
5. Restaurants

A big part of raising children is making sure they complete their education. For that reason, we considered the percentage of residents with a high school degree or higher.

To make sure you have time to help Junior with his homework, you don’t want to spend more time than you have to in traffic. We folded in average commute times to see which areas provide more of a work-life balance.

And when you are home, you want to find other people who are in the same boat as you. You need companionship and so do your kids. Our rankings included the percentage of families with children under 18. Similarly, we looked at which cities have the most residents who are invested in their community. This data can be determined by the percentage of people living in the same residence for one year or longer.

And finally, we factored in the percentage of income residents in each city generally pay for housing, to give you the cities where you can have some wiggle room in your household budget.

10 Best Cities in Washington to Raise a Family

10. Maple Valley

• Residents with high school degree: 96.8%
  
• Average commute time: 37.4 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 47.3%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 86%
  
• Income for housing: 25.2%

Not only does Maple Valley sound idyllic, it certainly attracts young families, with over 47.3% of families having children under the age of 18. Outdoorsy families will particularly love the town, which offers numerous parks, trails and lakes. Lake Wilderness Park, for example, offers playgrounds, fishing and even a boat launch. Need a break from the city? Maple Valley is conveniently located between Seattle and Tacoma.

Did you know? There are two museums run by the Maple Valley Historical Society, with pictures and artifacts of the town’s history available for you and your family to examine.

9. Wenatchee

• Residents with high school degree: 82.4%
  
• Average commute time: 15.4 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 30.7%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 85%
  
• Income for housing: 21.9%

Named after the Wenatchi tribe, this town has the shortest commute time on our list of just 15 minutes. It’s also known as the “Apple Capital of the World,” ensuring that you and your family have a big to-do item every fall. Wenatchee is also surrounded by gorgeous mountains perfect for winter sports like skiing, snowboarding or even snowmobiling.

Did you know? Your kids can join the circus without running away: the Wenatchee Youth Circus puts on a full traveling show with participants from ages 6 to 18.

8. Camas

• Residents with high school degree: 95.2%
  
• Average commute time: 26.3 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 46.8%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 84.1%
  
• Income for housing: 26.1%

Camas is another Washington city with plenty of families with kids — nearly 47%. Though the city’s economy historically relied on a paper mill, it is now a hot bed for the tech industry, with companies like Hewlett-Packard and Linear Technologies maintaining offices there. Check out the downtown area’s monthly First Fridays, when shops stay open late, artists host exhibits and live bands play for the whole family to enjoy.

Did you know? During the annual Camas Days festival, the city hosts a bathtub race right in front of city hall. Filled with water, the tubs are outfitted with wheels, a steering bar and even brakes.

7. Redmond

• Residents with high school degree: 95.3%
  
• Average commute time: 20.7 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 29.8%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 77%
  
• Income for housing: 19.9%

Redmond is a solid pick for budget-minded families, with an average of just under 20% of income spent on housing. You also get a good bang for your buck – the city is about 16 miles outside of Seattle. Don’t worry about traveling that far for strong employers, as both Microsoft and Nintendo of America are headquartered in Redmond. If you have a bike enthusiast in the family, be sure to participate in the Redmond Derby Days, an annual festival and carnival that includes a bicycle race.

Did you know? Your teens will enjoy the Old Fire House, a teen center that hosts live concerts every Friday night.

6. Spokane Valley

• Residents with high school degree: 91.7%
  
• Average commute time: 19.3 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 29.2%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 83%
  
• Income for housing: 21.6%

Spokane Valley residents average less than 20 minutes for their commute time, giving them extra time to spend with their families. The town’s breathtaking views can be enjoyed in any number of ways. Follow the Spokane River as you hike along the Centennial Trial. Or kayak through the white water rapids of Sullivan Hole. Other nature oases include Mirabeau Point Park and the Dishman Hills Conservancy.

Did you know? You and your family can follow the Spokane Indians, a minor league baseball team based in the city.

5. Mukilteo

• Residents with high school degree: 98%
  
• Average commute time: 25.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 32.7%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 84.4%
  
• Income for housing: 23.6%

Located on the scenic Puget Sound, an impressive 98% of Mukilteo’s residents have earned at least their high school degree. In fact, Kamiak High School is one of the most expensively built high schools in the entire nation, showing that residents do place a premium on public education. Your future pilots will appreciate the city’s affinity towards aviation, with both the Historic Flight Foundation and the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour.

Did you know? Volunteers at the Mukilteo Light Station perform reenactments of historical times, which could be just the thing for you and your family to feel immersed in the community.

4. Moses Lake

• Residents with high school degree: 86%
  
• Average commute time: 16.8 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 36%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 81.5%
  
• Income for housing: 21%

Moses Lake ranks strongly across most categories on our list. The local economy is anchored by Grant County International Airport, REC Silicon and BMW, among many others, all of which likely contribute to the short commute time of just 16 minutes. Annual family-friendly events include a water sports festival and the Five Suns Bluegrass Festival.

Did you know? Moses Lake is home to several wineries and breweries, so take a night off from the kids and enjoy some of the city’s more grown-up offerings.

3. Richland

• Residents with high school degree: 95.2%
  
• Average commute time: 19.3 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 29.7%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 83.3%
  
• Income for housing: 16.6%

While visions of Washington usually bring mountains and pine trees to mind, Richland exhibits diversity in its shrub-steppe environment. You can also check out the town’s wetlands at the Amon Creek Natural Preserve. But there’s also a booming work environment to go along with all that nature: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, EnergySolutions and Lockheed Martin are all tech and energy industries with roots in Richland.

Did you know? Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the four golf courses located in Richland, plus even more in the surrounding area.

2. Sammamish

• Residents with high school degree: 98.4%
  
• Average commute time: 29.2 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 56.4%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 90.7%
  
• Income for housing: 21.4%

If building relationships in your community is important to you, than Sammamish is the place for you, having the highest scores for both families with kids and people living in the same house as last year. Start getting to know folks at the Sammamish Farmers Market each Wednesday, which features farm vendors, artists and more. Other family-friendly venues include a skate park and tons of trails and rec parks.

Did you know? The city holds an art fair each year at city hall, where you can encourage your kids to become patrons of the arts at an early age.

1. Mercer Island

• Residents with high school degree: 98.6%
  
• Average commute time: 21.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 30.4%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 90.3%
  
• Income for housing: 19.2%

Mercer Island ranks highest on our list for high school degrees, and comes in a strong second for the low percentage of income spent on housing and the high percentage of families living in the same house as last year. Located just outside of Seattle, the town offers many amenities while maintaining plenty of pristine natural habitats. Luther Burbank Park, for example, has a zip line in addition to playgrounds, fishing pier and swimming beach.

Did you know? Mercer Island’s annual Seafair festival hosts flight demonstrations by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, sure to be a hit with the whole family.

Washington’s top cities for families offer diverse opportunities for laying down roots. There’s a lot to do in the cities we’ve highlighted, and you don’t have to fork over your whole paycheck to housing costs to live in these places.