A West Coast life offers some of the most beautiful scenery and weather in America, but knowing the right place for your income level can be crucial to your quality of living. Say you make $150,000 annually — what’s the best West Coast city for you?
That’s a question GOBankingRates sought to answer with a recent study, in which Western cities with the highest livability indexes (nothing lower than a score of 85 out of 100) were sourced from AreaVibes. That list of cities was then cross-referenced against metros with comfortable costs of living and housing prices. From that data, the 15 best West Coast cities to live if you make $150,000 emerged.
Also see Southern Cities where you can live on $150,000.
Key Findings
- Alaska and California are nowhere to be found: Despite making up more than half of America’s West Coast, Alaska and California had no city in GOBankingRates’ research for the best cities to live with a $150,000 salary.
- Oregon dominates the list: Meanwhile, the Beaver State has 10 of the 15 best cities for folks with a $150,000 salary to settle down in.
- Pullman, Washington, has the most affordable housing: With an average home value of $429,214, Pullman has the most affordable home prices of any city in the study.
For You: 9 States With No Income Tax — Lower Your Tax Bills by Moving to These States
Trending Now: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
1. Sherwood, Oregon
- Median household income: $110,616
- Average home value: $641,607
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,338
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $136,677
- Livability: 92
Check Out: How Much House Does $300K, $400K and $500K Buy You in Every State?
2. Milwaukie, Oregon
- Median household income: $82,422
- Average home value: $513,824
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $59,740
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $119,479
- Livability: 91
3. Battle Ground, Washington
- Median household income: $100,185
- Average home value: $603,765
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,588
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $131,176
- Livability: 90
4. Central Point, Oregon
- Median household income: $80,450
- Average home value: $414,648
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $50,863
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $101,727
- Livability: 90
5. Beaverton, Oregon
- Median household income: $94,279
- Average home value: $539,976
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $61,264
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $122,529
- Livability: 89
Consider This: The Living Wage a Family of Four Needs in All 50 States
6. Gladstone, Oregon
- Median household income: $90,395
- Average home value: $512,006
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $59,742
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $119,484
- Livability: 89
7. Enumclaw, Washington
- Median household income: $116,563
- Average home value: $673,440
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $70,886
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $141,773
- Livability: 88
8. Liberty Lake, Washington
- Median household income: $105,599
- Average home value: $575,587
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $60,794
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $121,587
- Livability: 88
9. Hillsboro, Oregon
- Median household income: $103,207
- Average home value: $528,865
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $60,378
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $120,757
- Livability: 88
Be Aware: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
10. Tigard, Oregon
- Median household income: $105,008
- Average home value: $611,299
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,977
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $131,954
- Livability: 87
11. Tualatin, Oregon
- Median household income: $105,073
- Average home value: $646,664
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,181
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $136,361
- Livability: 86
12. University Place, Washington
- Median household income: $94,952
- Average home value: $658,307
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $67,872
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $135,743
- Livability: 86
13. Oregon City, Oregon
- Median household income: $94,648
- Average home value: $595,949
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,653
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $131,307
- Livability: 86
Explore More: 22 States in or Near a Recession Right Now — and What It Means for Residents
14. Pullman, Washington
- Median household income: $45,097
- Average home value: $429,214
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $49,843
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $99,685
- Livability: 86
15. Cottage Grove, Oregon
- Median household income: $64,133
- Average home value: $392,312
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $49,315
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $98,630
- Livability: 86
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: GOBankingRates identified the cities with the highest livability indexes, as sourced from AreaVibes. Median household income was taken from the U.S. Census 2023 5-year ACS. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. National average expenditure costs for all households came via the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the cost of living for necessities were calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of median household income, the cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. Places with a comfortable cost of living above $150,000 were removed for this study. Places with a livability of 85 and below were removed as they represent places with less than ideal quality of life. The remaining cities were sorted to show the highest livability locations first, representing the best places to live once your salary hits $150,000. All data is up to date as of Nov. 25, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Best West Coast Cities To Live If You Make $150K
