If you've ever enjoyed coffee at Starbucks, used a PC or flown on a commercial flight, you've helped fuel Washington's economy. That's because Starbucks was originally founded in Seattle and continues to be headquartered in the city; Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, and the Gates family lives in Medina; and Boeing manufactures airplanes in Everett in the largest building in the world. In addition, Washington is the largest producer of apples in the country and home to the only rainforests in the contiguous U.S. It's also one of the few places in the contiguous U.S. with volcanic mountains, many of which are active.
Most people who think of Washington think of its largest city, Seattle. But there are many other cities and towns throughout the state. Our data reveals which ones are the safest.
How We Determined the Safest Cities in Washington
We narrowed down the safest cities in each state based on two primary categories. First, we evaluated public safety factors including violent, property and hate crimes in each area to help determine the safest areas to live. We then evaluated financial and socioeconomic factors including household income, average rent and health insurance. In addition, we evaluated each state for natural disaster safety and public health safety. You can find a detailed breakdown of our methodology and links to sources here.
Here are the public safety factors we counted for each city:
*Public safety data is based on a population of 10,000 (for example, a “2” means two incidents for every 10,000 people).
- Property crime – Number of property crimes reported in the city (FBI Crime Report)
- Violent crime – Number of violent crimes reported in the city (FBI Crime Report)
- Aggravated assaults – Number of aggravated assaults reported in the city (FBI Crime Report)
- Hate crime – Number of hate crimes reported in the city (FBI Hate Crime Report)
- Officer-related incidents – Number of officer-involved shootings reported in the city (Gun Violence Archive)
- Mass shootings – Incidents in which four or more people are shot/killed in the city (Gun Violence Archive)
Here are the financial safety factors we counted for each city:
- Annual rent – Annualized median rent
- Unemployment rate – The average rate of unemployed residents in each city
- Cost of living – The average annual rent and household income per city
- Poverty rate – Percentage of families that reported experiencing poverty in the last 12 months
- Uninsured employed – Percentage of employed residents that reported not having health insurance
- Uninsured unemployed – Percentage of unemployed residents that reported not having health insurance
15 Safest Cities in Washington
No. 1 Sammamish
One of the richest cities in Washington, Sammamish is located in King County and close to the Snoqualmie Valley. Due to its strategic location near major employment areas, the city offers excellent local business opportunities to its residents. Along with its vibrant natural resources and parks, Sammamish also provides outstanding recreational opportunities. Nearly all the people living in Sammamish have access to the internet, and its crime and unemployment rates are also low.
99out of 100
Public Safety
81out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 0 (1st) 0.914578379 (1st) 56.55142979 (1st) 0.15243 (3rd) 0.15243 (3rd) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 27240 (1st) 165318 (1st) 0.031 (14th) 0.017 (13th) 0.004 (15th) 0.008 (15th) No. 2 Redmond
Also located in King County, Redmond is one of the most populous cities in Washington. The city is best known for providing a high quality of life to its residents. Redmond also has some of the top rated schools in Washington. The annual rent is high; however, crime and poverty rates are lower compared to other cities on our list.
99out of 100
Public Safety
73out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 5.924620596 (5th) 7.595667431 (10th) 281.6473484 (13th) 0.151913 (2nd) 0.151913 (2nd) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 22260 (3st) 123449 (2nd) 0.039 (7th) 0.031 (9th) 0.011 (12th) 0.082 (12th) No. 3 Lake Forest Park
A suburb located close to the largest lake in the Seattle area, Lake Forest Park is home to over 13,500 people. The city is a scenic beauty with a lot of attractive destinations. A nature lover can visit the Grace Cole Nature Park and also the Horizon View Park. Although it ranks high overall, the hate crime rate and uninsured unemployment rate in Lake Forest Park are higher than in many of the cities on our list.
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75out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 8.145734597 (12th) 2.221563981 (3rd) 194.0165877 (6th) 0.740521 (11th) 0.740521 (11th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 18384 (8th) 111234 (4th) 0.043 (6th) 0.016 (14th) 0.02 (4th) 0.174 (8th) No. 4 Edgewood
As a developing city, Edgewood has a diverse and growing community. You can get fresh local produce and household goods at The Market, a local family owned food market. However, if you are looking forward to a great drink, you can visit the Nightside Distillery. The good news: There’s not a lot of unemployment and poverty in the city. However, the hate crime rate is high compared to other safest cities on our list.
96out of 100
Public Safety
74out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 3.475238923 (3rd) 9.556907037 (12th) 200.6950478 (8th) 0.86881 (14th) 0.86881 (14th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 15312 (12th) 97984 (8th) 0.036 (10th) 0.01 (15th) 0.048 (1st) 0.235 (4th) No. 5 Newcastle
Newcastle is famous for its parks and greenery. If you love golf, then the Gold Club At Newcastle is the perfect place for you to indulge in the sport. Although crime rates generally run low, Newcastle does have a relatively high rate of hate crime and uninsured, unemployed residents.
97out of 100
Public Safety
72out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 0 (1st) 3.367570298 (5th) 204.5798956 (9th) 0.841893 (13th) 0.841893 (13th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 20892 (5th) 119125 (3rd) 0.044 (4th) 0.021 (12th) 0.014 (11th) 0.242 (3rd) No. 6 Edmonds
Edmonds provides a variety of amenities to its residents. Located in Snohomish county, the city has some of the most beautiful landscapes, including the Marina Beach Park and Meadowdale Beach Park. The poverty rate in Edmonds runs a bit high compared to some of the other top cities on this list, but the data show it’s a very safe city overall.
97out of 100
Public Safety
68out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 7.98778339 (11th) 7.282978973 (9th) 197.8151063 (7th) 0.704804 (10th) 0.704804 (10th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 17016 (10th) 87693 (11th) 0.039 (7th) 0.032 (8th) 0.018 (6th) 0.125 (9th) No. 7 Mill Creek
A suburb of Seattle, MMill Creek is a healthy and proactive community. The town has some famous recreational service centers, such as The Therapy Mode. If you’re looking to relish some good food, you have the Azul Restaurant and Lounge. Despite the average unemployment rate, Mill Creek has a higher poverty rate compared to cities higher up on the list.
98out of 100
Public Safety
67out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 6.593199586 (7th) 2.354714138 (4th) 156.8239616 (5th) 0.470943 (8th) 0.470943 (8th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 20544 (6th) 101239 (7th) 0.032 (13th) 0.055 (3rd) 0.015 (10th) 0.118 (10th) No. 8 Bothell
Bothell has a population of above 28,000. The vibrant city is home to many attractions and also has a firm grip over sustainable development. If you are looking to enjoy nature, you can visit the North Creek Park and Blyth park. Bothell’s hate crime rate is very low compared to other safest cities in Washington.
98out of 100
Public Safety
63out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 7.76079505 (10th) 6.251751568 (7th) 219.2424602 (10th) 0.353045 (6th) 0.353045 (6th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 19416 (7th) 94986 (9th) 0.048 (3rd) 0.029 (10th) 0.017 (7th) 0.243 (2nd) No. 9 Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens is located in Snohomish County about 6 miles from Everett. Lake Stevens is famous as it’s the largest lake in Snohomish County. The lake also offers recreational activities such as fishing and water skiing. Safety scores are high for Lake Stevens, but it does suffer from higher unemployment.
99out of 100
Public Safety
61out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 8.659042728 (13th) 10.15198113 (13th) 106.2972142 (2nd) 0.298588 (5th) 0.298588 (5th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 18372 (9th) 88594 (10th) 0.035 (12th) 0.058 (2nd) 0.022 (2nd) 0.27 (1st) No. 10 Lynden
Located in Whatcom County,Lynden is a picturesque city with some of the best tourist attractions. You can visit the Lynden Pioneer Museum to dive into the city’s history. Residents can also visit the Wiser Lake to enjoy fishing, paddling and wildlife viewing. Lynden has a high cost of living, but a relatively low poverty rate.
97out of 100
Public Safety
62out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 6.843690118 (8th) 5.474952094 (6th) 140.2956474 (3rd) 0.684369 (9th) 0.684369 (9th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 14688 (14th) 64433 (15th) 0.028 (15th) 0.028 (11th) 0.022 (2nd) 0.079 (13th) No. 11 Puyallup
Puyallup sits southwest of Tacoma. The city is famous for the Washington State Fair, organized in Puyallup since 1900. The city is also renowned for its outdoor gallery, which is home to numerous sculptures and works by professional artists. Puyallup scores high for its low crime rates, but high poverty and cost of living push it out of the top 10.
99out of 100
Public Safety
57out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 12.26787261 (15th) 13.71115174 (14th) 562.1572212 (15th) 0.240547 (4th) 0.240547 (4th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 14064 (15th) 70711 (14th) 0.054 (2nd) 0.053 (4th) 0.017 (7th) 0.215 (5th) No. 12 Mountlake Terrace
Famous for the Tour de Terrace festival, Mountlake Terrace lies in Snohomish County. The city offers many amenities to its residents, which are easy to reach, such as the SeaTac International Airport, which is only half an hour’s drive from the city. Some notable attractions of the city include Olympic View Arena and Ballinger Park.
98out of 100
Public Safety
58out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 10.20929045 (14th) 7.888997169 (11th) 249.6635575 (12th) 0.464059 (7th) 0.464059 (7th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 16824 (11th) 72765 (13th) 0.039 (7th) 0.043 (6th) 0.019 (5th) 0.208 (6th) No. 13 Kirkland
Located in King County, Kirkland is one of the biggest cities on our list. If you are looking forward to some of the best water views, Kirkland will not disappoint you. In terms of recreation and sports, the city regularly organizes youth athletics in various sports such as basketball. The unemployment and poverty rates in Kirkland are close to the average; however, a lot of unemployed people are uninsured.
88out of 100
Public Safety
69out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 4.788152107 (4th) 6.458437726 (8th) 223.1501587 (11th) 0.111352 (1st) 0.111352 (1st) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 21312 (4th) 109715 (5th) 0.036 (10th) 0.036 (7th) 0.008 (13th) 0.181 (7th) No. 14 Fircrest
Fircrest is a suburb in Pierce County that offers high quality living to its residents. Visit the Northwest Float Center for recreational and wellness activities or dine at Royal Thai Bistro restaurant to enjoy delicious food. However, be advised that the hate crime rate in Fircrest trends higher than many of the cities on our safest cities in Washington list.
96out of 100
Public Safety
59out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 7.311010382 (9th) 16.08422284 (15th) 153.531218 (4th) 1.462202 (15th) 1.462202 (15th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 15216 (13th) 77292 (12th) 0.067 (1st) 0.047 (5th) 0.008 (13th) 0.058 (14th) No. 15 Issaquah
Rated by Family Circle as one of the best cities for families in the country, Issaquah is known for a variety of features, such as tourist attractions, diverse community and recreational services. If you’re into arts and culture, visit the famous Village Theatre to witness theatrical shows and performances. Many people have access to the internet in the Issaquah, although the city does have a high average cost of living.
97out of 100
Public Safety
57out of 100
Financial Safety
Public Safety
Total Violent Crime Aggravated Assault Property Crime Hate Crime Officer Incident Mass Shootings 5.957623167 (6th) 1.81318966 (2nd) 351.4997669 (14th) 0.777081 (12th) 0.777081 (12th) 0 (1st) Financial Safety
Annual Rent Household Income Unemployment Rate Poverty Uninsured Employed Uninsured Unemployed 22344 (2nd) 101508 (6th) 0.044 (4th) 0.078 (1st) 0.017 (7th) 0.118 (10th)
Washington State Safety
Natural Disaster Safety
Insurance Journal named Washington the 36th state in terms of natural disaster risk. Although hurricanes are unheard of and tornadoes are rare, the most common extreme weather event in Washington is strong winds that aren’t associated with a thunderstorm. Heavy snow, thunderstorm winds, floods, hail and wildfires are the next-most-common extreme weather events. The state is also at some risk of earthquakes, avalanches, blizzards and landslides, though those events are rare. Volcanic eruptions also remain a possibility in this state, with Washington’s most significant natural disaster being the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
36out of 50
Natural Disaster
Health Safety
Washington has every reason to brag for landing in seventh place on America’s Health Rankings’ 2019 report. The state leads the nation in the lowest percentage of occupational fatalities. Other health determinants that bolstered Washington’s ranking include low infant mortality rates, a relatively low level of children in poverty and a small percentage of adults who smoke or are physically inactive. Few hospitalizations in Washington were determined to be preventable through routine care. The factors most in need of improvement included the high school graduation rate, a disparity in health status and a relatively low percentage of the population receiving the Tdap vaccine.
9out of 50
Health Safety
Top 40 Safest Cities in Washington
| Sammamish | 65,604 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Redmond | 65,827 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Lake Forest Park | 13,504 | 22 | 2 | 3 |
| Edgewood | 11,510 | 27 | 3 | 4 |
| Newcastle | 11,878 | 26 | 5 | 5 |
| Edmonds | 42,565 | 21 | 7 | 6 |
| Mill Creek | 21,234 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| Bothell | 28,325 | 11 | 9 | 8 |
| Lake Stevens | 33,491 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
| Lynden | 14,612 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| Puyallup | 41,572 | 5 | 17 | 11 |
| Mountlake Terrace | 21,549 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
| Kirkland | 89,805 | 39 | 6 | 13 |
| Fircrest | 6,839 | 31 | 13 | 14 |
| Issaquah | 38,606 | 23 | 16 | 15 |
| Woodland | 6,137 | 32 | 15 | 16 |
| Tumwater | 23,405 | 13 | 18 | 17 |
| Renton | 102,749 | 6 | 19 | 18 |
| Spokane Valley | 99,020 | 9 | 23 | 19 |
| SeaTac | 29,463 | 10 | 24 | 20 |
| Lynnwood | 38,620 | 17 | 22 | 21 |
| Lacey | 50,844 | 4 | 26 | 22 |
| Vancouver | 177,580 | 1 | 28 | 23 |
| Bellingham | 90,208 | 19 | 27 | 24 |
| Dupont | 9,678 | 28 | 25 | 25 |
| Walla Walla | 32,906 | 18 | 29 | 26 |
| Olympia | 52,312 | 12 | 32 | 27 |
| Seattle | 742,759 | 40 | 12 | 28 |
| Kennewick | 82,687 | 36 | 21 | 29 |
| Airway Heights | 9,085 | 29 | 31 | 30 |
| Auburn | 72,392 | 38 | 20 | 31 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 11,953 | 25 | 33 | 32 |
| Tacoma | 215,687 | 37 | 30 | 33 |
| Ocean Shores | 5,977 | 33 | 34 | 34 |
| Pullman | 33,896 | 7 | 36 | 35 |
| Clarkston | 7,417 | 30 | 35 | 36 |
| Port Angeles | 19,992 | 16 | 39 | 37 |
| Tukwila | 20,288 | 35 | 37 | 38 |
| Cheney | 12,715 | 24 | 38 | 39 |
| Centralia | 17,299 | 34 | 40 | 40 |