There is a famous and successful boxer who named all of his sons after himself.
George Foreman’s five boys all have his name with a different number next to it.
That’s sort of the same vibe with Washington State vs Washington DC.
Both places are named after the one and only George Washington.
But what came first?
Washington DC, as it is a federal district set aside by the constitution in 1789.
Despite the confusion, exactly 100 years later, the powers that be decided to name a state after our first president.
It’s the only state to be named after a president.
Names are interesting, but so is the landscape that makes up Washington.
Another attractive feature is Washington doesn’t collect state income tax.
What about moving there?
Are there places in Washington that can be classified as budget-friendly?
Contents
10 Cheapest Places to Live in Washington
1. Spokane
Right at the Idaho border is Spokane.
On an initial look, it might be intimidating to see the housing market in Spokane.
There are so many homes up for sale with a price tag of $1.5 million and up.
Never fear, deals are here.
Many houses do fall in the $200,000 to $400,000 range.
To rent, prices start at $1,200 and work their way quickly up.
2. Spokane Valley
To the immediate east of Spokane is Spokane Valley.
It’s not as big as the official Spokane but it is a distinct town with plenty of housing options.
You can find plenty of rentals for $1,200 a month.
The purchase price, however, is way easier on the pocketbook.
There are homes for under $100,000 and plenty more to choose from up to $250,000.
3. Yakima
On the outskirts of the Yakama Indian Reservation, located toward the bottom-middle of the state, is Yakima.
The town is known for good wine, interesting museums, and amazing scenery.
Something it should be known for is housing prices.
You can buy a house here for $50,000.
You could upgrade and still not spend more than $150,000.
In a move no one would have expected, rentals are often between $1,400 and $1,600 a month.
4. Pullman
Another Idaho border town, Pullman is in the southern half of Washinton.
Much of the strip looks like a painting.
Mostly, rentals are just under $1,000 and go up to $1,300.
If you want to buy, homes are often sold for less than $300,000.
There are plenty of wonderful options for as low as $125,000.
5. Longview
Before Columbia River takes a nosedive south, it hits Longview.
Whether it’s the location or view, the area was sought after for potential.
To permanently call Longview home, expect to shell out between $240,000 and $330,000.
For a more flexible abode, rent starts at $1,500 to $2,300.
6. Ellensburg
If there ever was something Washington had that would make Canada jealous, it’s Ellensburg.
The reason is, the town is shaped like a maple leaf.
If that’s not fun, what is?
Take that good sense of humor to the bank with a mortgage for $150,000 to $400,000, on average.
Rentals are at $1,600 and up.
7. Moses Lake
There’s not a ton of space here to go wild.
Even though, who knows what kind of interesting people the two highways that go through the town bring in.
Both Highways 90 and 17 disturb the peace of a quiet neighborhood.
Start buying homes for around $100,000.
Get your rent on for around $1,200 a month.
8. Tacoma
Who needs an ocean when you have another body of water?
Just south of Seattle and known for breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Tacoma is popular for travelers as well as settlers.
Tacoma may not be the size of Seattle but it still benefits from a wealth of amenities.
Two-bedroom rentals have a range of $1,200 and $1,700 a month.
You’re likely to find your dream house in the $300s.
9. Walla Walla
If you’ve ever seen Looney Tunes as a kid, you’ve heard of Walla Walla.
Walla Walla Washington is where the sales representative is from in the cartoons.
You can almost hear Daffy Duck saying it, as he does several times throughout an episode.
Rentals are highly sought after and are often between $1,600 and $1,800 a month.
Want to own?
From $90,000 to $225,000 is what you might expect to see when touring the town.
10. Vancouver
The first town you are greeted by when crossing the Columbia River into Washington from Oregon is Vancouver.
The closest big city is Portland.
Who wouldn’t want a good excuse to border shop for shopping therapy?
Rentals most commonly go for between $1,400 and $1,800 a month.
$110,000 to $165,000 is a price range for homes that seems to stay steady as people come and go out of town.
Washington Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Washington Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ethnic breakdown of Washington?
Washington is considered a diverse state that continues to diversify as time goes on.
Between the 2010 and 2020 census, the diversity index for the state increased by 6%.
With the regular influx of residents moving into the state, that number is expected to continue growing.
For a state that borders another country, you’d think some of that diversity comes from Canada.
However, living in that proximity might make moving over the border pointless.
Anyway, here’s what the people of Washington look like from an overhead view.
The largest percentage, at 72%, is Caucasian.
Facing the Pacific, it would seem the Asian number would be higher, but it’s 9%.
Next, we have the Hispanic population at 5%.
At 4% of the pie, we have African Americans.
2% are Native Americans.
Lastly, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders make up only 1%.
Additionally, 9% of people in Washington are a mix of two or more ethnicities.
What kinds of things are there to do in Washington?
If you’ve ever wanted to live somewhere with endless outdoor adventures, Washington might be your perfect match.
There are three national and 140 state parks in the state.
You could go to a brand-new park every few days for a whole year and still not see them all.
While you’re outside, head over to Seattle and hop on a ferry due north.
What that leads you to is a quick way to pop over to Canada for a bit.
Want a pop culture reference?
Seattle has the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
The Space Needle is a tower that’s over 600 feet tall with what looks like a spaceship on top.
The market is iconic for the open-air fish-tossing that has been featured on TV and in movies.
What is Washington known for?
Not that states have entered into a popularity contest, but it’s hard to deny that some states stick out more than others.
Good examples are New York, California, and Texas.
Sometimes it’s not the state but aspects of the state that are well-known across the country.
Washington has a mix of aspects that make it a place people don’t often forget about.
Some of that is thanks to Seattle being as big and busy of a city as it is.
For whatever reason, many big companies and even rock stars have come out of Seattle.
Have you heard of a little coffee shop called Starbucks?
Yep, the original location is here, as is Seattle’s Best Coffee.
How about Microsoft or Amazon?
You guessed it, also from Washington.
Washington is also known for a blast so massive that the mountain in question lost 1,300 feet of elevation.
In 1980, Mount Saint Helens, one of a handful of active volcanoes in the state, erupted.
It was a massive story and the effects of the eruption were felt for a long time to come.
Two weeks later, the ash was circling the globe.
Even in Texas, it could be seen falling from the sky.
Washington is also home to several popular music acts.
Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie, Pearl Jam, Heart, Alice in Chains, Jimi Hendrix, Bing Crosby, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Modest Mouse, just to name a few.
