Best Places to Retire in Washington

Are retirees moving in retirement these days? The answer is yes. And no.

The pandemic is not the driving force behind as many decisions as it once was, but it continues to upend our lives—including considerations for moving in retirement.

Many retirees put moving on hold during the pandemic. Some were forced to retire earlier than planned.

The bottom line, according to Hire-A-Helper’s annual report ( Where Americans Moved to Retire in 2021), more retired in 2021 but fewer moved.

In fact, according to the study, the number of Americans moving to retire hit a seven year low in 2021. The causes of this dip include COVID, a turbulent housing market, and lack of retirement savings. But at this point, many of those who put their plans on hold are now looking to revitalize their move. The craziness of the real estate market, changes in interest rates and inflation have some seniors scrambling to put their longtime homes on the market as soon as possible.

Many seniors who move in retirement do so to take advantage of the equity in their homes and look for destinations with a more favorable cost of living, especially housing prices.

Most organizations that rank Best Places to Live, like Kiplinger and Forbes, advise keeping the following in mind when contemplating a move in retirement:
 

1. Access to quality healthcare; 
2. Cost of living—especially but not limited to housing costs;
3.  Climate; 
4. Taxes (keep in mind the full tax burden including state income tax, estate tax, real estate and property taxes, utility costs and gasoline tax);
5. Access to services that serve seniors; 
6. Low crime rates; 
7. Access to lifestyle factors such as outdoor recreation and cultural opportunities; 
8. Air and water quality. 

Walkable downtowns with dining options can be a crucial quality. A new consideration is access to strong broadband internet connectivity, increasingly essential for everything from telehealth or even to connect with grandchildren. Often the most important factor is proximity to family and friends. To attain their lists, organizations analyze the amenities seniors want vs. cost of living.

In years past, towns and cities in the Great Northwest have often ranked high on the national lists. Sometimes two, three or more Northwest Places made the top ten lists for several different ranking organizations. But high cost of living and other factors have knocked the Northwest out of the running with the major ranking organizations, with two exceptions.

It turns out that Tennessee topped the list of destinations for retirees moving to another state.

But where should Washingtonians move if they want to stay in the state?

One Washington city made Forbes’ top 25: Spokane.

Forbes describes Spokane as a scenic river city with a strong economy and good ratio of physicians per capita. It has good air quality, offers wonderful recreational opportunities and it ranks low on the national hazard risk (think coastal flooding, earthquake, tornado, etc.). While the median home price is above the national average, it is well below the Puget Sound region average.

For the past several years, Forbes included Wenatchee on their list. While the Apple Capital of the World was left off Forbes’ list this year, it is still worthy of consideration.

Another of the “Best Places to Retire” heavy-hitters, Kiplinger, listed Richland as one of the 7 best small cities in the county for retirees. Kiplinger describe Richland as having bucolic surroundings with miles of trails for hiking and biking, aquatic parks for boating and fishing, access to first-rate healthcare and low crime rate. There are over 200 wineries within a 50-mile radius. The city also offers excellent shopping, arts & entertainment, and educational opportunities. It has no shortage of things to keep an active retiree busy. A major reason Richland is included on the list is a low cost of living. The article offers this observation: “Retirees from Seattle who have sold a home there can often pay cash to get a home in Richland,” with a significant sum left over. Richland is part of the "Tri-Cities" area that also includes Kennewick and Pasco.

A new study from SmartAsset (10 Best Places to Retire in Washington) found the places in Washington that were most favorable to retirees. The full study looked at tax burden, ratio of doctors, recreation centers, retirement centers, percentage of seniors, and how a place ranked on their overall “Best Places to Retire” index. Here is their current list for Washington state places:

1. Gig Harbor

2. Sequim

3. Lynnwood

4. Olympia

5. Snohomish

6. Woodinville

7. Puyallup

8. Vancouver

9. Anacortes

10. Port Orchard

If money is no object, if you don’t need frequent nearby access to large medical centers, and if you’d like to escape the hustle and bustle and traffic of urban life, San Juan County came in as Washington’s best county for retirees from Niche.com. The list is based on “Location, location, location,” as the adage goes. The report states the San Juan County is a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible while at the same time enjoying your favorite activities. Cost of living? WAY above the national average.

AARP offers a resource: “Great Neighborhoods for All Ages” (Home – AARP Livability Index), which scores communities across the country for the services and amenities that impact older adults’ lives the most. Check out your community to see where it lands. AARP advises that you take a comprehensive look at what makes your life enjoyable and satisfying— factors that rankings can’t quantify. Despite all the raves and reviews of far-flung places, being near family and friends always scores as the very best retirement destination for most retirees.

Wherever your retirement takes you, as always, Northwest Prime Time wishes you a happy and healthy adventure. 

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