So retiring in Washington state is far more complex than just downsizing. And there are a lot of real estate brokers, unfortunately, who treat retirement like just that. But the truth is, there is so much more to it than meets the eye.
Washington state, for many years, by the way, has been one of the top retirement destinations in the entire country for one reason. It has been up until 2026 an income tax-free fortress. your social security, your 401k, your and also your hard-earned pensions were completely untouched by the state government.
But as we move into March 2026, the cost of admission has changed. Between the capital gains tax and the income tax and also a 21% hike in healthcare premiums hitting the state exchange, you can't just afford to pick a pretty town and hope for the best. And your retirement strategy in Washington is exactly what we're talking about in today's video.
So, I am Washington real estate advisor Leah Courage, and on this channel, we cover all things Washington real estate and lifestyle with an absolutely no BS take. And today, I am breaking down the top 10 retirement spots for 2026 from the Blue Hole of the Olympic Peninsula to the Napa Valley of the North. And at the end of this video, I'm going to be giving you our 2026 Washington exit checklist to ensure that if you move here or leave, the Department of Revenue doesn't take a parting gift from your estate.
So, let's dive in. So, the meat and potatoes for retirees in 2026 is this fine balance between tax efficiency and healthcare density. Among other things, we're seeing a 26% increase in Washington state housing inventory, which actually means that for the first time in years, retirees truly have negotiating power.
You don't have to win a bidding war. You do have to win the long game, however. But here is our whistleblower reality.
The 2026 legislative session just finalized the rules for Senate Bill 6346, which establishes that 9. 9% tax on high asset gains. So, while that only affects a specific bracket, earnings above a million dollars for the moment, it is a massive signal that the no income tax reputation of Washington is officially over.
So, if you're a retiree with a significant nest egg, then your geographic choice in Washington isn't just about the view. It's about protecting your legacy from a state that is aggressively looking for new revenue streams in order to fund its infrastructure. So, I'm going to be completely real with you.
A lot of agents will talk about golf cart culture and waterfront strolls, but I want to talk to you about the distance to the nearest major hospital and also your 2026 property tax levies. So, if you're planning a retirement move this year, whether you're moving within the state to find a slower pace or you're relocating all the way across the country to be near your family, whether you're coming or going from Washington State, you need a fiduciary ally and not a salesperson. So, our team handles Washington and I have spent years building a vetted partner program that handles the rest of the United States as well and actually the world for that matter.
So, if you need a version of me, in example, Arizona or Florida or even Tuscanyany, I've already found them for you. So, my link to get connected is in the description below. Go ahead and click it and I truly look forward to hearing from you.
So, let's start with the retirey favorite in Washington, which is Squim. Don't let the spelling fool you. It is not pronounced sequim or sequim.
It is one syllable, Squim. So, in March 2026, the median price for a retirement friendly single home here in Squim is 530,000 to $580,000. And at this price point, you are looking at, say, a modern 1,800 ft rambler that's likely built with aging in place kind of features like wider hallways and zeroep entries.
And the area offers the famous rain shadow effect. So, while Seattle is drowning in 38 in of rain annually, Squim stays dry with only 16 in. It's a slowpaced, low stress enclave where the retiree population is the absolute majority, meaning the local infrastructure is built specifically for you.
And retirees love Squim because the climate allow allows for year-round gardening and also year-round outdoor activities without the constant drizzle that you get so many other places in Western Washington. But what are the shortfalls? Well, it's a quiet town in every single sense of the word.
So, if you still crave high-end night life or you need easy access to major international airports, the 2 and 1 half hour drive minimum to SeaTac, including the potential bottleneck at the Hood Canal Bridge, will eventually completely wear you down. So, why are people choosing Squim? Well, it's the microclimate.
You get the beauty of the Pacific Northwest without the consistent gray gloom depression that drives people out of the state. And here's a fact that nobody talks about. Squim has actually evolved into a specialized healthcare hub.
Because of the high density of seniors, the local clinics here have actually 40 years of experience in geriatric care that you simply aren't going to find in younger cities. So, next is beautiful Bellingham, where the price point reflects its massive popularity, averaging 620,000 to $680,000. And this price, by the way, buys you a well-maintained 2,000 ft² home in established neighborhoods.
So, the area offers a vibrant and active lifestyle. You have, say, St. Joseph's Medical Center, which is a powerhouse facility along with an ultra thriving art scene and immediate access to the San Juan Islands very close by.
So, why do retirees love it? Well, it's for the person who isn't ready to slow down. It's for the mountain bikers and the hikers and the people who want to audit classes at Western Washington University.
But what are the shortfalls? The Bellingham bubble, I'm afraid, is quite real. The city is getting incredibly expensive.
It's the most expensive in Washington state as far as cities and towns goes. And the 2026 property taxes are climbing as a city invests in massive green energy projects. So why choose it over Seattle?
Well, you get the university town energy, but without the big city crime and congestion that Seattle has. So, you're trading a concrete jungle for a place where the mountains meet the sea. Quite literally.
And here's something nobody talks about. Bellingham is actually closer to Vancouver, British Columbia than it is to Seattle. So, for retirees, this means that you actually have access to international travel and worldclass Canadian healthcare specialists just an hour to the north.
in Chinatown up there is pretty darn good, too. So, it's a twocountry retirement strategy that a lot of people completely overlook, but it's a huge benefit for Bellingham. Third is lovely and romantic Gig Harbor where the average price point has climbed to $750,000 to $850,000.
So, this buys you maritime elegance as I like to call it. So that would be likely a 2500 foot home with a kind of a vacation feel potentially near the water or high-end Canerwood golf community for example. And the area offers stunning waterfront views and easy access to specialized medical hubs in nearby Tacoma.
And retirees absolutely love it in Gig Harbor because it feels like living in a resort 365 days a year. The downtown area is walkable and it's got a high-end boutique kind of feel and it caters to a sophisticated demographic. But what are the shortfalls?
It's the bridge toll. So to get to the mainland for worldclass specialists or major shopping at the Tacoma Mall, then you're paying a toll every single time you head east along the Narrow's Bridge. So over 20 years of retirement, that is a five figure expense that people completely forget to budget in.
So, why choose it over Olympia, for example? Well, it's the prestige and the safety. So, Gig Harbor feels like a gated community even in the public areas.
Also, Gig Harbor has a secret high-speed ferry connection in the works. So, as we move through 2026, the proximity to the South Worth Fast Ferry to Seattle is making the north end of the harbor a massive equity sleeper for retirees who still want a quick trip to the city for a show or a dinner. Fourth is our state capital.
It's Olympia, averaging 450,000 to 520,000. And this buys you a solid 1,900 ft² home in a quiet established neighborhood like West Olympia or the Tamishin community. And the area offers some of the best senior infrastructure in the state.
From the Olympia Senior Center to the highly regarded Providence St. Peter Hospital, which just completed a major professional contract upgrade in 2026 to ensure better staffing ratios. So, retirees love it in Olympia because it's the most affordable major city on the west side of the Cascades.
But what are the shortfalls? Well, it's the government gritty vibe. Downtown Olympia can feel heavy with state bureaucracy and the traffic on I5 through the JBL corridor is a literal parking lot during peak hours.
So the question is why choose it over say the north sound? Well, it's stability. The economy here is recession proof because of the state government.
Olympia is also home to some of the most accessible low impact nature trails in the entire state of Washington, specifically the boardwalks at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisquali National Wildlife Refuge. So this allows retirees to stay ultra active and engaged with the environment even if their knees aren't ready for say a mountain hike.
You get the beauty without the vertical requirement. So fifth is enchanting Port Townsend with prices averaging $550,000 to $650,000. So this buys you a historic Victorian era home on the hill or a newer artistic build with a workshop.
The area offers a thriving intellectual and artistic community that is entirely unique to the Pacific Northwest. And I say that sincerely. So why do retirees love it?
Well, it's extremely walkable. It's full of historic charm. It's got pretty darn good food.
And it's perfect for the lifelong learner learner who wants to spend their days at the Northwest Art Gallery or the Jefferson Healthcare Wellness Center. But what are the shortfalls? Well, it's healthc care isolation, I'm afraid.
So, while Jefferson Healthcare is a fantastic local hospital with deep ties to the arts, for major cardiac surgery or neurosurgery, you're headed to Seattle or Breton. So, why move here to Port Townsen over nearby Squim? Well, it's the soul.
Port Townsen isn't just a retirement town. It's a living, breathing seapport with a massive working waterfront. And actually, here's another fun fact.
Speaking of maritime, Port Townsen is a wooden boat mecca. Even if you've never touched a sail in your life, you will when you arrive because the community culture is built around traditional craftsmanship and boat building skills that both keep your mind sharp and your social calendar full well into your 80s if you want it to. It's the ultimate destination for the maker retiree.
So, we are now officially crossing the Cascades into beautiful Walaw Wala where the price point is $420,000 to $480,000. So, this average price point buys you a beautiful craftsman home near the Whitman College campus or a scenic ranch on the outskirts. Small ranch.
We're talk we're not talking about big ranches here, of course. So, the Walaw Wala area offers a world-class wine and dining scene with an ultra- low stress agricultural pace. Retirees here absolutely love the flat and walkable downtown and the sense of beautiful, really, real historic elegance that you usually only find in the south or in New England in the United States.
But what are the shortfalls here? It's the extreme isolation. You are nearly 4 hours from a major metropolitan hub like Seattle or Portland.
So why move here over say the Tri Cities? Well, it's the culture. Walaw Wala has a level of sophistication and a chefdriven food scene that you will not find even in industrial hubs.
And here's a really fun fact. Walaw Wala has a sweet onion heritage that is actually protected by federal law. And the local festivals provide a level of smalltown Americana that most people think completely disappeared in the 1950s.
It's a place where your neighbors still know your name and also where local wine shops know your vintage. Seventh is the major city on the east side. It's Spokane where the average price point is 380,000 to $430,000.
So, this buys you a legacy home with massive character or a newer suburban build in the South Hill area. So, the area offers the absolute best healthc care infrastructure in the Inland Northwest, which is anchored by the Sacred Heart Medical Center, which in 2026 was actually just designated as a comprehensive stroke center. So, retirees love it here because they get big city amenities like theater and fine dining and professional shopping, but all at small town pricing.
But what are the shortfalls? Well, it's the property crime in specific pockets, and it's also the snow factor. You will be shoveling your driveway in the winter or you're going to be paying someone to do it.
So, why move here over, say, the west side, for example? It's the financial freedom. It's simple.
You can sell your Seattle home and you can buy in Spokane for cash and have a quarter million dollars left over for your travel fund or for your grandkids college. Whatever you want to spend it on, money is yours. And here's a fun fact.
Spokane was the smallest city in history to host a world's fair. And the resulting riverfront park is a 100 acre retirey playground featuring the world's largest radio flyer wagon and also paved paths that are arguably some of the best urban parks in the entire United States. So eighth is beautiful Wan that averaging $480,000 to $550,000.
So, this buys you a 2,000 foot home with a view of the Columbia River and also the surrounding basaltt cliffs. It's so beautiful out there. The area offers 300 days of sun, yes, you heard that right, and immediate proximity to resort life in Lake Chalan.
Retirees absolutely love the Apple Capital Loop Trail, which is 10 miles of paved, perfectly flat riverfront walking that is ideal for biking or just for strolling. What are the shortfalls? Well, it's increasingly the wildfire smoke in late August and September, which can be a serious health concern for people with respiratory issues and also the storm damage from 2025 has led to some temporary trail closures in the Okonogan Wachi National Forest.
So, why move here? Well, it's the sunny middle ground between Seattle and Spokane. And here's a fun fact, by the way.
Wachi is the power capital of the state. So, with some of the lowest electricity rates in the entire country fixed to nearby dams, your 2026 heating and cooling bills will be a fraction of what they'd be literally anywhere else. You're saving money just by existing here in the valley.
So, ninth is Pasco, part of the Tri Cities with prices at $410,000 to $460,000. So, this buys you a brand new lowmaintenance home on a flat lot which is designed for aging in place. The area is dry, it's sunny, and it's built for golf cart living at places like the Tri Cities Retirement Inn.
Retirees absolutely love the abundance of courses and the riverfront lifestyle along the Colombia. But what are the shortfalls? Well, it's the high desert aesthetic.
If you need lush green trees in order to be happy, the brown hills and the sage brush of Pasco will definitely struggle to win you over. So why move here in the first place? Well, it's the most active adultfriendly region in the entire state with a healthcare network that is actually rapidly expanding to meet the needs of the growing senior population.
And here's another fun fact. Pasco is one of the fastest growing agricultural hubs in the entire world. Yes, the full globe.
Meaning that the farm-to-table dining scene here is fresher and more affordable than anything you're going to find in Seattle. You're eating worldclass produce for local prices. So, finally, you've got Liberty Lake averaging 580,000 to $650,000.
This buys you a pristine 2200 ft² home in a community where a golf cart is your primary mode of transport to the lake or to the shops. So, the area offers manicured parks and a very high safe haven feeling that is very popular with retired law enforcement and also with professionals. What are the shortfalls here?
Well, the high homeowners association fees and the cookie cutter feel that lacks a historic grit can bug some people. So, why move here? Well, it's the safest, most retirey optimized city in eastern Washington, sitting right on the Idaho border for tax-free shopping.
And here's a fact that nobody talks about. Liberty Lake is actually one of the only cities in the state that was built from the ground up with an actual master plan specifically focused on pedestrian and golf cart connectivity. So, in 2026, the city council just finalized a budget that prioritizes trail head improvements, making it the most accessible city for those who want to age in place without ever needing to rely on a traditional car for their daily errands.
Pretty darn cool if you ask me. So, to summarize, my friends, retiring in Washington in 2026 is a game of trade-offs. You choose the west, places like Squim or Bellingham or Gig Harbor.
If you value a nice mild climate, specialized maritime healthcare, and if you don't mind the higher prices in the property taxes, you choose the east places like Spokane or Wacci or Liberty Lake if you value financial freedom and 300 days of glorious sun that we miss here on the west side and the best healthc care per dollar ratio in the entire Northwest. The strategic retiree wins by looking at the net spendable income after all taxes and health care costs are accounted for. The 2026 market is offering you inventory and massive opportunity, but only if you have the data to make an informed strike.
So, thank you so much for watching. Seriously, it means the world to me. I can't even begin to express it.
And also, if you enjoyed this information, please like this video, subscribe to our channel, and turn on notifications so that you never miss any of our new videos, as honestly, we put out videos multiple times every week. And if you're planning a move, whether in state or across the country or even internationally, reach out to us. Our team would love to be your number one resource and ally for having the best relocation experience possible.
Our contact information is in the description below and we truly look forward to helping you make your next move with the utmost of confidence. Again, I am real estate broker Leah Courage. I thank you so much for watching.
Keep exploring and we will see you in our next video.
