According to US News, Washington leads the pack as the best state in the nation in which to live. Washington boasts a super low crime rate and comes in at number four in the best education systems in the country. Both an outdoor enthusiast's dream and a tech-sector powerhouse, the Evergreen State is a wonderful place to put down roots.

But how do you choose where to settle down? This is where

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Let’s take a closer look at the finest cities and towns to live in the country’s number one ranked state.

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What makes a good place to live?

It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to picking the right place to live. There are a ton of factors that go into making a home livable, from gas prices and available education to the climate and local entertainment and leisure activities. There’s also personal preference—a city-lover might go crazy living in a perfect small-town far from metropolitan areas.

To help sort out what you might be looking for, we’ve collected the facts on eight Washington towns: Clyde Hill, North Redmond, Quincy, Spokane, Davenport, Prosser, West Richland, and Colfax.

We’ve put both cities and small towns on our list, and looked into the following factors for all eight places:

Median household income

Median home price

Cost of living

Quality of schools

Crime rates

Healthcare

Average commute times

FEMA risk index ratings

Using these metrics, we’ve narrowed down some great places to live in Washington based on three categories: the best places for families, the most affordable places to live, and the best places to buy a house and invest in a long-term home.

The best places for families to live in Washington

Education, community, and crime rates are the top list of factors for families to keep in mind when looking for a place to settle. Putting those variables front and center, these top two Washington communities are obvious choices.

Clyde Hill

Location: King County

Population: 3,398

Median household income: $192,250

Median home price: $3,373,800

Nestled on a hilly strip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, Clyde Hill is an ideal suburb for a Washington family. The public schools in Clyde Hill are highly rated, with a nearly 99% high school graduation rate compared to the national average of 85%, and 77% of the population pursuing a four-year degree.

Clyde Hill’s crime rate is five times below the national average with an A+ rating. That means that Clyde Hill is 80% safer than all the cities in the United States, with crime rates continuing to decrease every year. Proximity to popular cities like Seattle and Bellevue raise King County’s overall crime index, but Clyde Hill is a haven just outside big cities.

Whether your family is outdoorsy, artistic, or likes exploring culturally rich locations nearby, you’ll find something for everyone in Clyde Hill. Just north of

Bellevue

, this small town provides a peaceful rural feeling while still having access to city life. A mile away is Bellevue Square, as well as

other local attractions

like the Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue Botanical Garden, and farmer’s markets.

North Redmond

Location: King County

Population: 4,564

Median household income: $248,969

Median home price: $941,228

Located north of Clyde Hill is North Redmond, a quaint neighborhood in the city of

Redmond

, 15 miles northeast of Seattle. Remond is a bit of a technology hub, home to tech giants Nintendo and Microsoft—Microsoft employs more than 20,000 people alone! Crime rates here are relatively good; although Redmond has a B rating, violent crime is 74% below the national norm.

Although there are limited things to do in the immediate area, it’s easy to travel into the main city for

Redmond community events

Redmond Town Center

offers 110 retail stores, with fresh produce available at the

Redmond Saturday Market

from May through October, and annual events such as

Derby Days

are made specifically family-friendly.

The public schools in North Redmond are highly rated, with several top-ranking elementary and middle schools and a 97% high school graduation rate. With a low housing density, North Redmond is surrounded by parks and trails, as well as large undeveloped areas just outside its boundaries, making it a great location for families to access the beautiful nature Washington has to offer.

MORE:

Washington car insurance laws

The most affordable places to live in Washington

One of the biggest factors going into finding a home is considering the cost of living. Unfortunately, Washington's cost of living is much higher than the national average, but given that it has some of the best schools, lowest crime rates, and a booming economy, it's not surprising housing is a hot ticket item.

We've singled out these towns as the most affordable in Washington. We’re basing affordability on two factors: the overall cost of living and commute times (which determine fuel costs).

Quincy

Location: Grant County

Population: 8,789

Median household income: $58,000

Median home price: $369,000

Smack dab in the middle of Washington, Quincy is arguably the cheapest place to live, with the overall cost of living of 88.9 compared to the US average of 100 and Washington average of 118.7,according to BestPlaces.net. Real estate prices in the city are 50% lower than the Washington average and rental prices are 37% lower.

Car-related expenses are especially low in Quincy. Since the average commute time is 18.9 minutes, you’ll spend less money on fuel each month. Even better, the cost of

full coverage

car insurance in Quincy is $1,188annually compared to the state average of $1,409—and you can bring that rate even lower with help from

Jerry

Quincy is one of Washington’s most affordable places to live, further compounded by the fact that it’s surrounded by many natural attractions. Located seven miles from the Columbia River, residents in Quincy love spending time outdoors, taking part in free activities like hiking around

Ancient Lakes

, or fishing and camping at

Quincy Lakes

Spokane

Location: Spokane County

Population: 452,000

Median household income: $42,814

Median home price: $370,000

Spokane

is one of the most beautiful cities in the state—with the

Selkirk Mountains

and the picturesque

Spokane River

running through it. It offers a small-town atmosphere with the advantage of big-city amenities, a thriving arts community, and a multitude of natural attractions. Their city motto is “Near Nature, Near Perfect!”

Along with natural beauty, Spokane boasts a cost of living that’s lower than the national average—the cost of living housing here is rated 85 compared to 135 for all of Washington state.

Unfortunately, high area crime rates can drive up your car insurance rate, but you’ll enjoy a 20-minute commute on average. And you can save even more by not commuting at all; Spokane is #12 of the best small metro areas to telework, bringing the work to the worker instead of the worker to the work!

Davenport

Location: Lincoln County

Population: 1,703

Median household income: $60,911

Median home price: $255,400

Just 35 miles west of Spokane is the sleepy town of

Davenport

. Located in the wheat fields of Eastern Washington, this city is considered one of the Evergreen State’s best-kept secrets. Housing prices here are great at 74 compared to 135 in Washington, with the overall cost of living coming in at 86 out of a national average of 100.

With a small population of close-knit neighbors, Davenport isn’t a large town, so commute times are just below the US average, coming to about 24 minutes one way. With an A rating in crime, you can expect cheaper car insurance rates that are sure to save you money!

Davenport is more on the wild side of nature, and is just a 30-minute drive from

Lake Roosevelt

and all the recreational activities your heart desires!

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Best places to buy a house in Washington

If you’re looking for a place to call home for a while, you’ll have to consider the housing market and climate in your future city. To figure out these factors, we looked at average selling prices and the FEMA Risk Index.

Prosser

Location: Benton County

Population: 6,398

Median household income: $53,736

Median home price: $384,900

Prosser

is one of the most practical places to buy a house in Washington’s blazing hot market, especially as prices continue to rise. With a low median home price and a buyer’s market, it makes finding a deal easier than in the competitive housing markets of nearby cities.

The market isn’t the only factor to consider when buying a house. Prosser’s crime rate is a solid 16% below the US average and has an affordability rating of 95—a way lower cost of living than most of in Washington state. In the central south of the state, the Comfort Index rates it at 8.9 in the summer (10 being the best), and 5.4 in the winter, the temperate Pacific Northwest making for mild weather.

Prosser also has a nice, low FEMA risk index—8.30 vs. the national average of 10.60, meaning a low risk of damage from natural disasters or severe weather. That makes for fewer repairs and premium-inflating insurance claims for homeowners. However, Prosser is home to unnatural phenomonon—just a short ways a way is

Gravity Hill

, although Anti-Gravity Hill would be more fitting!

West Richland

Location: Benton County

Population: 13,407

Median household income: $81,778

Median home price: $412,854

Just a half hour east of Prosser is West Richland—twice the size, with a slightly higher cost of living at 103, and a similarly low FEMA risk index of 8.30 vs. the national average of 10.60. Benton County is actually one of the few places in the state with a low earthquake risk, meaning homeowners insurance is sure to be cheaper than elsewhere along the Cascadia subduction zone.

Regarding the everyday weather, the annual BestPlaces.net Comfort index for West Richland give it a rating of 9/10, meaning it’s more comfortable than most places in Washington. With an annual average of nine inches of rain per year and four inches of snow, it’s as wet as the rest of the state but gets a bit more snowfall for fun

winter recreational activities

Colfax

Location: Whitman County

Population: 2,879

Median household income: $51,815

Median home price: $229,300

Less than 30 miles from the Washington Idaho state border,

Colfax

offers residents Several great benefits, with a low cost of living at 86.9 and 33% lower crime rate than the rest of the nation. Located in Whitman County, the FEMA Index gives Colfax a stellar score of 4.71, one of the safest places in the nation when it comes to natural disasters and severe weather.

With some of the lowest housing prices in the Washington market at the moment, Colfax is a hot spot to consider investing in. Especially since cities and towns on the east side of the Cascade Range are drier than the west of the state for those of you not looking to experience the fabled Pacific Northwest weather—rain, rain, and more rain!

MORE: How bad is Spokane traffic?

How to find affordable homeowners and car insurance in Washington

Being the number one rated state to live in of the entire nation, it's easy to understand some of the eye boggling prices of the Washington state housing market. But wherever you're looking to live,

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Move to the #1 rated state and use the #1 rated insurance app,

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Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance just by using the app. That’s no small amount if you’re living in an area with high costs of living like

Washington

“All of the insurance quotes I saw were over $600 a month because of my age. Then I stumbled upon
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