Contributed by Lindsay Shugerman, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Washington State is known for cozy coffee houses, great bookstores and beautiful scenery.

If you’re thinking of moving to this beautiful state, you may be wondering what city to choose. After all, almost every city and town in this Pacific Northwest state is beautiful.

Some facts about the what, where and how much might help you make your choice. That’s why we created our list of the 10 best places to live in Washington State.

10. Bellingham

If you love beautiful views of the Bay, parks with waterfalls, skiing on world-record setting snowfalls and a city with friendly people, Bellingham might be the right Washington State city for you.

With a population of just over 80,000, a university and two colleges and an average single family home prices of $341,587, Bellingham is a perfect choice for fans of college towns and beautiful waterfront views.

Population: 80,885
Median resident age: 31.3 years
Median household income: $35,616
Median house or condo value: $307,400

9. Everett

Where else in the world could you find an airport named anything like Everett’s “Jim and Julie’s Airport“?

But if that’s not enough to convince you Everett is one of the best places to live in Washington State, add in the half dozen colleges and universities, double that number of museums, and Seattle only about 20 miles away. Single family homes here average about $307,808.

Population: 103,019
Median resident age: 34.4 years
Median household income: $46,579
Median house or condo value: $273,800

8. Lynnwood

The Lynnwood website describes this town as close to everything…close to the city (Seattle is only about 14 miles away), close to the country, close to the mountains and close to the water. It’s no wonder that this community is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in Washington State.

A single family home in Lynnwood averages about $312,882.

Population: 35,836
Median resident age: 37.3 years
Median household income: $46,193
Median house or condo value: $325,334

7. Port Angeles

While we can’t promise you’ll run into any vampires here (the town was made famous by the recent Twilight series), you will find a lovely port city with affordable housing (a single family home averages about $239,699), local hot springs and a wide array of outdoor activities at State and National Parks within minutes from the center of Port Angeles.

Population: 19,038
Median resident age: 41.6 years
Median household income: $39,815
Median house or condo value: $206,144

6. Olympia

It may be only 50 miles from Seattle, but Olympia is a world apart. The Capital of Washington state offers residents a laid-back Washington lifestyle, with the conveniences of a larger city including colleges and a university, the arts and of course, excellent shopping! There’s even a growing international film festival in town.

Speaking of films, be sure to check out the “All Freakin’ Night” festival — a celebration of all thing horrifying, terrifying and just plain scary.

Housing in town is reasonable, with an average single family home listed at $283,781.

Population: 46,478
Median resident age: 38 years
Median household income: $50,646
Median house or condo value: $269,482

5. Sammanish

Imagine living in the middle of one of the most scenic, green and lush settings in the U.S. — then look around in Sammamish, Washington. It’s all here.

There is hardly a spot in this town where your view won’t include woods, mountains or both. Add the lakes, hiking trails and scenic walking paths, and you have what is probably the most breathtaking place to live in Washington. One word of caution…all this beauty comes with a price tag. The average single family home costs about $654,615, with many over the million mark.

Population: 45,780
Median resident age: 37.7 years
Median household income: $130,662
Median house or condo value: $602,538

4. Pasco

Located on the Columbia River, Pasco is a hub of agriculture and food processing. Foodies who want the freshest ingredients for their newest creations will love the town’s farmer’s market where just-picked fruits and veggies put grocery-store fare to shame.

Outdoorsy folks will love the outdoors with boating, camping, hiking and water-skiing gear. And with an average home cost of about $142,533, this is one of the most affordable of our top 10 places to live in Washington State.

Population: 59,781
Median resident age: 27.3 years
Median household income: $45,853
Median house or condo value: $151,759

3. Redmond

Nicknamed The Bicycle Capital of the Northwest, Redmond is a city that takes health, fitness and the environment seriously. This is home to the computer giant Microsoft, and one of the most educated populations in the country — nearly 65% of the residents have at least one college degree.

As with the rest of Washington, outdoor activities abound. But this city is also a great place for the arts, and of course, technology. Housing is a bit higher here, with an average single family home priced at $484,805.

Population: 54,144
Median resident age: 34.1 years
Median household income: $87,920
Median house or condo value: $452,181

2. Seattle

If someone knows the name of only one city in Washington State, odds are it’s Seattle. This city is home to coffee, music, bookstores, technology and miles and miles of bike trails. Expect big city amenities like museums, performing arts centers, universities and top restaurants mixed with Pacific Northwest laid-back attitude.

Homes in Seattle are more than in nearby suburbs, with average listing prices of about $519,415.

Population: 608,660
Median resident age: 36.1 years
Median household income: $60,843
Median house or condo value: $452,000

1. Vancouver

How does a state park in the middle of a volcano sound? You’ll find it in Vancouver…no, not the city across the border to the north. This is Vancouver Washington, located about 8 miles from Portland, Oregon.

With housing prices an affordable $263,458, an official town folk song written by Woodie Guthrie, lots of outdoor recreation all around and a thriving arts community, Vancouver might be the right place for you to live in Washington.

Population: 161,791
Median resident age: 35.9 years
Median household income: $45,701
Median house or condo value: $234,200

Source: all statistics from city-data.com