Washington Retirement Guide

Overall
The scenery, setting, and people make it very popular for baby boomers looking for the best  Washington State retirement communities in the Evergreen State. Olympia is the capital and Spokane is the largest city in the eastern part of the state. Washington’s cost of living can vary a great deal – Seattle, its largest city, tends to be much more expensive than other parts of the state. The Cascade mountains and an extensive waterfront make for a spectacular setting with extraordinary recreational opportunities. Washington has 3 national parks. The population is estimated at just over 7.6 million in 2019, up 13% since 2010. The population 65 and over is 15.9%, slightly younger than in the U.S. population. The Wikipedia entry for Washington has more interesting facts. Updated May 2021.

Port Townsend Lighthouse

Washington Economy & State Home Prices
Washington’s 2019 median household income was $73,775, about $9,000 higher than the median for all U.S. states. The MERIC cost of living index shows the state as having the 37th lowest cost of living of all the states. Agriculture, hi-tech, and aviation are important to the economy. The statewide median price of a home in early 2021 was $471,980 (Zillow.com), about $200,000 higher than the U.S. index. The first quarter of 2021 median home in the Seattle/Tacoma area sold for $653,400 (NAR). In Spokane during the same period, the median home was quite less at $337,500.

Climate
The Washington climate is characterized as Marine West Coast – moist air from the Pacific controls the climate. Year round temperatures are in a fairly narrow band. Washington is known for a lot of precipitation, particularly in winter. The Olympic Peninsula has some of the only temperate rain forests in North America.

Washington Taxes

Tax Burden: Total tax burden in Washington at 9.3% is 28th highest of the U.S. states.

Marginal Income Tax Rates. Washington is tax-friendly for retirees, primarily because it has no income tax. That means Social Security and pension income is not taxed either.

Sales Tax:  State sales tax ranges from 6.5%, with many cities able to boost that to 9.5%.

Property Taxes:  The state is ranked 23rd for property tax collections with a median tax of $2,631, placing it among the higher property tax states. State law requires that county assessors appraise all property at 100 percent of its true and fair market value.The state offers a property tax exemption for those with household incomes of $35,000 or less. Seniors can qualify for a tax deferral program.

Estate and/or Inheritance Taxes. Washington has an estate tax on estates over $2.193 million.

Link to Washington State Department of Revenue.

Best places to retire in Washington State
Active adults looking for retirement information on the exciting city of Seattle, home of the University of Washington, will find vital information to help them assess that community. Want to live on an island? Check out our profile of the idyllic San Juan Islands. Port Townsend is especially nice, almost all of the town has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Ellensburg, Kennewick, Wenatchee, Issaquah, and Pasco are also great places. For each community – from interesting Bellingham to the small town of Centralia, the college town of Olympia to Walla Walla– you will find community reviews written by active adults, not marketers.

Certified Retirement Communities
Washington does not have a certified retirement community program.

Free eBook – Baby Boomers Guide to Selecting a Retirement Community – 16 Factors
Download this free eBook and use its fun exercises to help you find your perfect active adult retirement community.

Seattle’s Modernistic Congregational Church

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