Four Washington cities have been named as some of the best places to live in the U.S., according to new rankings by U.S. News and World Report.
The 2026-2027 rankings evaluate affordability, desirability, the job market and quality life according to a press release. U.S. News and World Report weighted these factors according to a February 2026 public survey, which asked respondents to vote on the most important factors to consider when choosing where to live.
Sammamish (#21), Redmond (#75), Bellevue (#90) and Kirkland (#151), all part of the series of growing suburban communities east of Seattle, made the final list of 250 locations across the country.
The top Washington city in the rankings comes in at #21 overall. Despite housing costs well above the national average, Sammamish offers moderate temperatures throughout the year and a high median household income.
Sammamish’s population is 65,430, according to the U.S. Census, and the town lies to the east of Seattle and a short drive to the Cascades and other parts of central Washington.
Redmond also lies east of Seattle and has a population of 82,525, according to TK. Housing costs are well above the national average with slightly faster driving commuter times than the rest of the country.
The job market in Redmond, located east of Seattle, is better than the national average and temperatures are also moderate throughout the year.
Bellevue sits across Lake Washington from Seattle and has a population of 154,259 according to the U.S. Census. Housing costs are nearly $1,000,000 more than the national average.
Home to some of the biggest technology companies in the country, Bellevue sees moderate temperatures and rainfall throughout the year.
Housing costs in Kirkland tower over the national average at $1,068,154 according to the rankings. Temperatures are mild throughout the year and driving commute times are slightly less than the national average.
99,276 people live in Kirkland, according to the U.S. Census. The town is also the namesake of Costco’s in-house brand, named after the company’s headquarters in Washington.
U.S. News and Report also ranks the best places to live by state. Here’s the top ten list for Washington:
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.