Most Americans have never been to small town Washington. However, as the Washingtonian who live there know, small town Washington is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Washington has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Evergreen State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 197 of Washington’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Washington where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the worst small towns in Washington for 2024:
- Mattawa
- Cascade Valley
- Dallesport
- Oroville
- Soap Lake
- Neah Bay
- Grand Coulee
- Forks
- Royal City
- Granger
So what is the worst small town to call home in Washington for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Mattawa is the worst small town to live in Washington.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Mattawa home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Washington or the worst places to live in Washington.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In Washington For 2024
1. Mattawa
/10
Population: 3,506
Median Home Value: $426,187
Median Income: $45,500
Unemployment Rate: 10.9%
2. Cascade Valley
/10
Population: 3,457
Median Home Value: $137,104
Median Income: $49,050
Unemployment Rate: 12.8%
3. Dallesport
/10
Population: 1,426
Median Home Value: $419,892
Median Income: $62,759
Unemployment Rate: 14.1%
4. Oroville
/10
Population: 1,753
Median Home Value: $254,701
Median Income: $34,750
Unemployment Rate: 7.0%
5. Soap Lake
/10
Population: 1,378
Median Home Value: $297,626
Median Income: $43,009
Unemployment Rate: 9.3%
6. Neah Bay
/10
Population: 1,081
Median Home Value: $165,077
Median Income: $63,750
Unemployment Rate: 8.5%
7. Grand Coulee
/10
Population: 1,034
Median Home Value: $237,363
Median Income: $47,361
Unemployment Rate: 12.7%
8. Forks
/10
Population: 3,380
Median Home Value: $328,078
Median Income: $42,080
Unemployment Rate: 8.0%
9. Royal City
/10
Population: 2,060
Median Home Value: $367,885
Median Income: $45,795
Unemployment Rate: 9.2%
10. Granger
/10
Population: 3,632
Median Home Value: $279,559
Median Income: $54,167
Unemployment Rate: 16.7%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Washington is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in Washington, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 197 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Washington.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Washington
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Evergreen State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in Washington are Mattawa, Cascade Valley, Dallesport, Oroville, Soap Lake, Neah Bay, Grand Coulee, Forks, Royal City, and Granger.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Washington, according to science:
- Clyde Hill (Pop. 3,108)
- Cavalero (Pop. 1,457)
- Yarrow Point (Pop. 1,280)
For more Washington reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In Washington
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mattawa | 3,506 | 10.9% | $426,187 | $45,500 |
| 2 | Cascade Valley | 3,457 | 12.8% | $137,104 | $49,050 |
| 3 | Dallesport | 1,426 | 14.1% | $419,892 | $62,759 |
| 4 | Oroville | 1,753 | 7.0% | $254,701 | $34,750 |
| 5 | Soap Lake | 1,378 | 9.3% | $297,626 | $43,009 |
| 6 | Neah Bay | 1,081 | 8.5% | $165,077 | $63,750 |
| 7 | Grand Coulee | 1,034 | 12.7% | $237,363 | $47,361 |
| 8 | Forks | 3,380 | 8.0% | $328,078 | $42,080 |
| 9 | Royal City | 2,060 | 9.2% | $367,885 | $45,795 |
| 10 | Granger | 3,632 | 16.7% | $279,559 | $54,167 |
| 11 | Moses Lake North | 4,958 | 4.7% | $248,756 | $52,977 |
| 12 | Peaceful Valley | 2,715 | 5.2% | $244,194 | $50,845 |
| 13 | Mabton | 2,314 | 9.6% | $259,456 | $50,000 |
| 14 | Wapato | 4,600 | 8.4% | $260,821 | $48,877 |
| 15 | Warden | 2,483 | 7.7% | $279,867 | $50,929 |
| 16 | Bridgeport | 2,416 | 6.2% | $217,417 | $52,083 |
| 17 | Deer Park | 4,482 | 13.4% | $460,694 | $56,181 |
| 18 | Tieton | 1,546 | 0.9% | $323,467 | $50,658 |
| 19 | Darrington | 1,233 | 13.8% | $402,113 | $48,750 |
| 20 | Kettle Falls | 1,598 | 6.2% | $266,302 | $48,690 |
| 21 | Chewelah | 2,508 | 7.6% | $329,414 | $52,905 |
| 22 | Winlock | 1,958 | 11.4% | $344,092 | $59,833 |
| 23 | Brewster | 2,241 | 3.6% | $283,564 | $58,617 |
| 24 | Goldendale | 3,448 | 18.7% | $294,510 | $45,467 |
| 25 | Benton City | 3,498 | 5.3% | $390,409 | $51,558 |
| 26 | Lakeview | 1,540 | 11.8% | $222,344 | $71,000 |
| 27 | South Wenatchee | 1,267 | 3.1% | $0 | $58,178 |
| 28 | Pomeroy | 1,397 | 7.4% | $237,071 | $47,784 |
| 29 | Carson | 2,349 | 6.2% | $423,956 | $65,898 |
| 30 | Basin City | 1,570 | 0.0% | $48,982 | $104,025 |
| 31 | Rock Island | 1,259 | 7.0% | $384,792 | $53,359 |
| 32 | Republic | 1,120 | 5.4% | $265,761 | $45,658 |
| 33 | Gleed | 3,231 | 5.3% | $342,400 | $76,875 |
| 34 | Westport | 2,498 | 2.1% | $301,562 | $54,271 |
| 35 | Canyon Creek | 3,548 | 6.0% | $429,801 | $72,938 |
| 36 | Elma | 3,426 | 6.1% | $353,476 | $64,808 |
| 37 | Morton | 1,333 | 11.0% | $348,623 | $55,156 |
| 38 | Mccleary | 2,426 | 8.3% | $374,566 | $67,885 |
| 39 | Ocean Park | 1,906 | 8.2% | $352,742 | $48,945 |
| 40 | South Bend | 1,859 | 1.2% | $306,533 | $45,156 |
| 41 | Kittitas | 1,281 | 3.9% | $292,423 | $57,063 |
| 42 | Omak | 4,877 | 4.9% | $248,161 | $70,125 |
| 43 | Manson | 1,385 | 7.7% | $644,548 | $55,283 |
| 44 | Ahtanum | 3,353 | 8.8% | $329,914 | $81,354 |
| 45 | Burbank | 3,383 | 10.9% | $451,007 | $84,046 |
| 46 | Chelan | 4,269 | 3.3% | $459,333 | $75,099 |
| 47 | Alderton | 2,686 | 9.1% | $531,728 | $93,008 |
| 48 | Dayton | 2,763 | 4.3% | $242,894 | $68,671 |
| 49 | Cle Elum | 2,116 | 2.2% | $631,086 | $56,645 |
| 50 | Napavine | 1,700 | 7.2% | $391,421 | $70,833 |
| 51 | Grand Mound | 3,442 | 5.1% | $350,444 | $59,695 |
| 52 | Zillah | 3,153 | 3.1% | $357,773 | $68,701 |
| 53 | Colfax | 2,799 | 3.7% | $298,987 | $54,659 |
| 54 | Coulee Dam | 1,334 | 6.0% | $234,704 | $65,313 |
| 55 | Newport | 2,136 | 3.0% | $392,497 | $46,250 |
| 56 | Colville | 4,927 | 3.3% | $320,818 | $45,972 |
| 57 | Boulevard Park | 4,411 | 4.1% | $550,577 | $71,167 |
| 58 | Algona | 3,264 | 8.7% | $490,301 | $81,474 |
| 59 | Port Angeles East | 3,035 | 3.6% | $369,412 | $60,417 |
| 60 | Entiat | 1,038 | 5.5% | $406,982 | $75,978 |
| 61 | South Creek | 2,346 | 6.2% | $600,280 | $91,833 |
| 62 | Long Beach | 1,831 | 0.0% | $341,542 | $47,188 |
| 63 | Twisp | 1,095 | 10.3% | $445,006 | $52,054 |
| 64 | Tenino | 2,045 | 4.6% | $471,308 | $63,654 |
| 65 | Puget Island | 1,057 | 5.3% | $383,339 | $64,593 |
| 66 | Port Hadlock-Irondale | 3,326 | 4.8% | $403,388 | $76,518 |
| 67 | Belfair | 4,175 | 4.9% | $481,359 | $68,080 |
| 68 | Clinton | 1,165 | 7.4% | $677,377 | $69,570 |
| 69 | Okanogan | 2,640 | 3.1% | $244,052 | $68,850 |
| 70 | Ilwaco | 1,433 | 0.6% | $390,354 | $85,446 |
| 71 | Waterville | 1,488 | 1.3% | $301,746 | $71,964 |
| 72 | Raymond | 3,092 | 0.5% | $280,702 | $57,991 |
| 73 | Castle Rock | 2,624 | 7.0% | $454,243 | $63,750 |
| 74 | Cosmopolis | 2,255 | 10.3% | $321,324 | $69,625 |
| 75 | Mcchord Afb | 2,899 | 2.7% | $0 | $48,063 |
| 76 | Point Roberts | 1,249 | 2.5% | $371,290 | $74,400 |
| 77 | Whidbey Island Station | 2,482 | 0.0% | $0 | $39,375 |
| 78 | Ritzville | 1,733 | 1.4% | $236,593 | $60,638 |
| 79 | Rainier | 2,707 | 7.5% | $466,166 | $89,659 |
| 80 | Sumas | 1,397 | 3.8% | $467,770 | $82,188 |
| 81 | Desert Aire | 2,714 | 0.0% | $492,350 | $81,893 |
| 82 | North Yelm | 2,785 | 2.2% | $339,518 | $75,489 |
| 83 | Suquamish | 4,329 | 5.8% | $439,345 | $80,216 |
| 84 | Swede Heaven | 1,092 | 1.6% | $484,066 | $129,196 |
| 85 | Millwood | 1,930 | 3.4% | $351,509 | $70,313 |
| 86 | Davenport | 1,850 | 5.6% | $355,598 | $71,486 |
| 87 | Cashmere | 3,244 | 1.1% | $470,031 | $60,597 |
| 88 | Summitview | 2,059 | 1.3% | $422,957 | $82,382 |
| 89 | North Bonneville | 1,146 | 7.3% | $441,931 | $79,375 |
| 90 | Clear Lake Cdp (Skagit County) | 1,121 | 1.5% | $583,953 | $63,125 |
| 91 | Gold Bar | 2,338 | 5.3% | $457,437 | $84,310 |
| 92 | Montesano | 4,124 | 3.7% | $371,258 | $57,500 |
| 93 | Purdy | 1,422 | 9.6% | $310,465 | $83,952 |
| 94 | Freeland | 1,894 | 9.8% | $700,687 | $89,868 |
| 95 | Longbranch | 4,081 | 3.9% | $594,068 | $91,563 |
| 96 | Fords Prairie | 2,842 | 4.1% | $327,273 | $82,741 |
| 97 | Lochsloy | 2,679 | 2.4% | $626,813 | $103,008 |
| 98 | West Pasco | 1,870 | 8.2% | $571,587 | $147,833 |
| 99 | Navy Yard City | 2,643 | 1.4% | $315,867 | $71,098 |
| 100 | Fairchild Afb | 3,184 | 3.9% | $0 | $67,325 |
What a bunch of racist, classist garbage. People being poor or being high school dropouts doesn’t mean they aren’t good people with worth. Boredom is absolutely relative. Has the author ever heard of compassion? Truly idiotic.
Seeing how the population is limited, how can these places be looked down on? Crazy
FYI- I am the 5th generation of a Proud family who has lived in this beautiful country of small towns since 1862. I grew up in Tekoa Washington, which seems to fall 11th on their list of towns least desirable. I would contend that they shouldn’t talk with their mouth full, these are Farming communities, which supply the nation with FOOD. Contrary to popular thought, the food is “NOT” manufactured at the Grocery store, and YES we appreciate our businesses that exist here, they like the Farmers around, are a Vital part of small town America. We spend time at our kitchen tables talking with each other, and growing our OWN food. Small town America is like a pond in a remote beautiful forest, you can walk up and see the still waters, with some wildlife teaming around, reaping benefit from its life giving traits. But, look below the surface, life begins. You can skip a rock across the water, and the waves turn to ripples. It’s really what’s below the surface that matters. When that rock settles, it does Damage, just like this ignorant, insensitive article is doing. What a concept.
Looks like all the towns listed are small towns and rural communities… just because they are not big cities with shopping malls and traffic jams doesn’t mean they are not good places to live. Let the author think how they want. Unless they have lived in any of these towns themselves they have no basis to Pas judgement. There are a lot of well educated people and a lot of good athletic , caring and compassionate folks who live in these towns. Who simply have chose to reside due to various reasons like family ties history, or simply, dreams that keep them grounded to their roots. Genarations.. where people and families know each other help a neighbor, and work together… enjoying nature, peace and quiet. Where if someone was sick or injured neighbors would help each other out. I know a lot of people or families in most of these listed towns… they are great folks.
This article is just some computer generated statistics based on certain input of the author of the article… holding no weight and that’s ok… can’t believe everything ya read on the internet. Would be nice to have better info tho… but I like these small towns and communities just the same!!! & The people , friends, and families that reside in them! Go small Towns in Washington!! 😉
biggest bunch of garbage i have ever had the misfortune of reading . the author owes me 2 mins of my life back
I live in Malden, I dont know where you get your facts, but there off. We have a store in Rosalia which is 6 miles away not 30 thats a fact, and we are not poor, alot of retired people, kids do graduate from high school, smaller schools are better, more time for each child. I could go on with more true facts. Thumbs down on your article, Im sure you have insulted alot of good people in these small towns
Riverside is actually a lovely little town. It is close to the city of Omak where shopping is good and there are several “Eateries”.It is also close to Hospitals and doctors. The author had to pick one of the least attractive locations to take his picture. Obviously the author has never read the history of Riverside. He would find it fascinating. Where does he get his erroneous statistics??
I was in Malden for 15yrs as a kid and it wasn’t too bad, the statistics on them towns are wrong. Awsome festivals happen every year there like Battle Days if you haven’t gone then you need to go put it on your bucket list of things to do. By the way “GO COUGS”
all these towns have great redeeming features, too bad this author used stats to judge us and our homes. you will have a waive and a smile and a kind words in most of these places, can’t think of better towns to raise my kids!
Doesn’t seem this INFOTAINMENT “journalist” visited Malden, WA before churning out his list. It’s 2016, but he includes a Google image from 2009 (pre road improvement). Not sure his source for population data, but appears to be from 2014, while we’ve been back above 200 since July, 2015. He uses vague and implied meanings to get a reader to form negative conclusions about the cost of homes. Seems he ran out of negative spin to include about Malden, so he widened his snipe to a 30minute radius, making insinuations about area independently owned grocery stores.
There are some fine markets in Rosalia, Oakesdale, and Spangle, and if you want to reach a chain store, unless your driving on the slow side, whithin a 30minute drive, you’ll have your choice of 4 popular grocery stores in nearby Colfax and Cheney.
The target audience for this piece of infotainment seems to be education and wealth snobs. So, I suppose if the article dissuades that crowd from moving here, we’re no worse for the wear.
So, for everyone else, if you want to move out of an over-crowded neighborhood, if you like a quiet community, where you get a glimpse of wildlife, if you want a commute that includes lovely landscapes instead of traffic stops and congestion, make an appointment to see one of the property’s for sale in Malden, WA. We’ve got a nice little home for sale on Aerie, and a few lots for sale inside the Town limits as well.
I left Spokane to find a quieter more laid back life after I retried from the Air Force, finally finding a home in the small town of St John, it was perfect for us, here you can get just about anyone to help you do anything, people share the fruits of their labor sharing garden vegetables, fruits or even offering to loan you a tool if you need it, something you cannot get in a larger town, plus our little school has great kids that perform one check of a winter Christmas show, are great in sports, the fact we have to drive 60 miles sometimes is minor compared to having the life we have now
I’m glad to see this article discouraging people from moving to these little towns. Our shining jems are best kept secret, least the ‘educated city folk’ come bringing with them the ways they pretend to want to leave behind.
Crime rate + unemployment + lack of education = these towns.
These were pointed out as the criteria for basing this list. People getting all worked up about statistics that are used world wide as indicators. Of course there are good people in these towns and I would bet that many of them sleep with a loaded gun close by their bed.
Your equation, Chris, is a stilted and incomplete portrayal of the towns people are speaking up about in response to the Infotainment article because articles such as these perpetuate inflammatory statements such as your bet about sleeping near guns.
Do some research.. you won’t find high crime in Latah. But go the 30 miles to Spokane and you had better keep your eyes wide open.
I was born and raised in Northport, number 4 on your very stupid and biased listing. Northport was a great place to grow up in. We new every body in town, including the names of their pets. Granted there is not much works there except in the woods or mines. But it was home. I hardly ever remember any crime there either. So get a life and look at the big cities. I bet Seattle would probably be number 1 as the wo st big cities to live in.
# 3 Latah doesn’t even have a gas station. I had to take some from my daughter’s lawn mower :/
It used to. But so what? Doesn’t make it a bad place to live.
I lives in Northport for alot of years you can say what you like yes all the factors you stateday be true but the crime lvl. Have not lived there for a few years but have many friends that still do.And for your info there are some very highly educated people that have grown up there and live there
I would far prefer to live in these towns than live in Tacoma or Seattle or Portland. I have lived there and never would I ever live in a big city again. High crime and nothing to do. You couldn’t even go out after dark if you wanted to live. What dumps! Give me a small town any day/ Or better yet out in the country. Neighbors a mile away!
I actually know most of the places on this list, several of them well. I’d live in any of these without a second thought.
Not that there aren’t some unpleasant towns in this state; a few aren’t even in King County. But whoever compiled this list clearly has some kind of attitude problem. A place must be bad if you can afford to live there? I’m guessing he’s from California.
Northport? Seriously, dude? Have you ever _been_ to Northport?
RK Henderson ~ SHHHHHH! Do we really want everyone to know wht a perfect and caring place Northport is to live?
LOL, income below poverty line, but what percentage of people here own their property outright compared to other places, and provide for most if not all their food?
Actually, I think most readers would be happiest to stay in the wonderful cities on the west side. Where living is easy.