10 Safest Cities in Washington 2016

Like living in a safe place? Who doesn’t right?

Want to see how your town stacks up to the rest of Washington?

Check out our list of the safest cities in Washington and explore the data for OVER 60 towns embedded in the map down below.

Washingtoncan be found in the very northwestern corner of the continental United States, above Oregon. It is also bordered by Idaho and the Canadian British Columbia. Named after George Washington, the state was admitted into the union on November 11^th, 1889, as the forty-second state. It is ranked as the thirteenth most populous state, and the state capital is Olympia.

The state flower for Washington is the Coast Rhododendron, and the state tree is the Western Hemlock. Both of these can be seen in many of Washington’s beautiful state parks. The state bird is the Willow Goldfinch, and the state fish is the Steelhead Trout. Fancy a snack? Washington’s state fruit is the apple, and the state produces more of this delicious fruit than any other state in the country.

Washington has over forty colleges and higher learning institutions in the state, including technical schools, career colleges, religious schools, and major research universities. Some of the popular schools are the University of Washington, Seattle University, Central Washington University, and The Evergreen State College.

Some of the major sports teams from Washington include baseball team Seattle Mariners, football team Seattle Seahawks, and soccer team Seattle Sounders. Many college teams are also from Washington State.

The state of Washington has plenty of state parks, lakes, and beautiful neighborhood parks. On the western coast of the state, there are beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean, giving for beautiful and amazing views. Museums, theaters, and art galleries can be found all over the state, and many of the cities here have annual festivals, concerts, and activities for families, neighbors, and friends.

To come up with the safest places in Washington we:

1. started with reported crime data collected and published by the FBI for 2014 (the latest year available)
2. filtered out tiny towns
3. looked at crime rates per 1,000 residents
4. weighted violent crimes more than property crimes to establish a final, composite score
5. ranked the towns based on that score

Of course, other factors go into the best places to live, but a low crime rate seems like a great place to start!

We were even surprised in a few places. Often, smaller towns are safer, as shown by our burglary risk calculator.  But, even Spokane made the list!

That brings up another point, there is a delay in the data for it to get compiled, normalized, and released by the FBI.  So, the 2014 data that we had available does lag reality by a bit.  And unfortunately, not all localities report this data, so some nice places may have been left out.

Population: 19,107 (2010 census)

Tukwila, also known as “Hazelnut City,” is located in the northeastern part of Washington, and is near the border of Seattle. The city was incorporated in 1908. The city of Tukwila is broken up into several neighborhoods, such as Cascade View and Riverton.

As Tukwila has many modes of transportation, including river, rail, and highways, it is a very valuable resource for commerce. Puget Sound’s largest shopping center, called Westfield Southcenter, is located in Tukwila. The area has elementary and high schools, as well as the Raisbeck Aviation High School.

Along with several parks in the city, The Museum of Flight is also located in the city. The Rainier Symphony also performs here several times per year.

Population: 208,916 (2010)

Located in eastern Washington, Spokane is the second largest city in the state, and was incorporated on November 29^th, 1881. The city of Spokane, which is the where the holiday Father’s Day found its roots, also carries the nickname of “The Lilac City.” The city has a motto, which is “Near Nature, Near Perfect.”

The city of Spokane has several different neighborhoods located within its limits, and the city has many beautiful parks that offer picnic areas, basketball courts, tennis courts, and playground equipment for children. There are over eighty-seven parks in the city, and six different aquatic centers.

Spokane is known for its emphasis on culture and the arts, and it has several different galleries and theaters located within. A few of these include the Knitting Factory, Fox Theater, and the Bing Crosby Theater. Spokane is also home to the Spokane Jazz Orchestra. Along with several museums, there are events in the city that occur annually, such as the Spokane Interstate Fair, Spokane Comic-Con, the Lilac Bloomsday Run, and the Spokane Hoopfest.

Spokane has several universities in the city, including Gonzaga University and Law School, and branches of Washington State University and Eastern Washington University.

Population: 8,388 (2010 census)

Burlington, also known as “The Hub City,” is located in northwestern Washington. The city was incorporated in 1902, and is known for its shopping malls and its youth sports programs. The city has recently constructed a brand new library for residents.

Burlington has a beautiful old downtown area, in which the city’s annual event, the summer Berry Dairy Days, is held. In 1945, there was a giant strawberry shortcake baked for the festival, which used sixty sheets of sponge cake!   Burlington also has a few cozy parks for relaxing, playing, and gathering with friends.

Population: 9,834 (2010 census)

Located in western Washington, Shelton holds the nickname of “Christmastown USA.” It is the only city in the state that still uses a commission form of government, in which the voters in the city elect about five to seven members of the commission to govern the city.

The Shelton area has several schools, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and an alternative school for children of all ages and grades.

The city of Shelton has ten parks, with different amenities, including jogging trails, picnic areas, sports fields, and playgrounds. The city has seasonal brochures and calendars for programs and events, especially for children in the summer.

Population: 6,047 (2010 census)

Located in south central Washington, Union Gap was originally called Yakima City. It is located on the Yakima River, and has recently become quite the retail center in the region due to the formation of shopping malls. The city was broken apart many years ago, and the new area that formed was called Yakima, while the remaining town was renamed Union Gap.

Along with several different city events, such as the annual Old Town Days event, the city also offers a youth program with many different features geared at children of all ages.

Population: 7,259 (2010 census)

Chehalis is a city that was incorporated in the year 1883, and is located in the southwest corner of the state. Chehalis is known as “The Rose City.”

Chehalis is home to the oldest continuously operational church in the state of Washington – Claquato Church. It is also home to the Vintage Motorcycle Museum, which is located in the Washington Hotel.

There are several parks in the city, such as Henderson Park, Lintott/Alexander Park, and Westside Park. There are also playgrounds for smaller children, basketball courts, and the ability to rent buildings in the parks to hold parties and meetings. Chehalis holds a community farmer’s market, steam train rides, and a Veteran’s Memorial Museum.

 

Population: 37,022 (2010 census)

Puyallup can be found in the western central part of the state, about thirty-five miles from Seattle. The city was named after the Native American Puyallup Tribe, and it means “the generous people.”

Puyallup is the home of the state’s main fair, the Washington State Fair, which can see over one million people each year. The city is also part of the Daffodil Festival and takes part in the Daffodil Parade each year. A beautiful antique district can be found here, with many antique shops and an outdoor art gallery that is open to the public. Along with elementary, middle, and high schools, Puyallup is also home to Pierce College Puyallup.

Population: 9,173 (2010 census)

Fife, a city in western Washington, was incorporated in 1957. The city is small, and has many small businesses, such as diners and little restaurants, shops and convenience stores, and car dealerships.

Fife might be a small community, but there is plenty to do for every age, including a large pool with swim lessons and programs, the Fife History Museum, a community garden, and several parks. The city also has several special events, such as a car show, Easter egg hunt, Harvest celebration, a Music in the Park celebration, and plenty of year round performances at the Fife Performing Arts Center.

Population: 36,485 (2010 census)

Located in northern Washington, Lynnwood is a major retail center that provides a great shopping experience for residents and tourists, as well as plenty of employment opportunities.

Along with several different elementary, middle, and high schools, Lynnwood is also home to several institutions of higher learning, such as Central Washington University and Edmund’s Community College.

The city has many different neighborhood parks, community parks, mini parks, playgrounds, memorials, and recreational facilities, including a golf course, a pond, a recreation center, and senior center. There are plenty of things for children to do here, since there are summer programs and recreational activities and camps geared toward children and families.

Population: 20,366 (2010 census)

Moses Lake is located in central Washington, lies on the lake with the same name. The lake is the largest natural body of water in the county. The lake provides

The city is part of a larger school system that includes elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, learning centers, and Big Bend Community College.

Moses Lake has several events in the community, including the annual Spring Festival, which takes place over Memorial Day weekend, the Moses Lake Water Sports Festival, and the Five Suns Bluegrass Festival.

Along with a water park, which includes something for everyone (even a surfing simulator), Moses Lake also has the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center, as well as a great many parks (and even a park for dogs!).

That does it for this list. Know a town in Washington that deserves a mention? Let us know in the comments!

Be sure to check out our articles for other states too!

• Virginia
• Florida
• South Carolina
• Georgia