These Are The 10 Smartest Cities In Washington

One of the many qualities that people look for in a potential location or company is the intelligence of those around them. This factor can play a huge role in oneâs experience at a particular company and can make or break an employeeâs time there.

So finding a city with an intelligent population makes sense for both companies and employees. Thatâs where Zippia comes in; to help you identify those places in Washington that might have skipped a gradeâ¦or two.

You may be wondering how does one determine how intelligent a town really is?

Well we went to the source of all things demographic data â the Census â to figure out what criteria about a place would identify it is a smart cookie.

We set upon the percentage of adults (over 25) with at least a high school degree and the percentage of high school dropouts (aged 16-20) for the 118 largest cities in Washington with data. We then crunched the numbers and were left with this set of the brightest cities in the Evergreen State:

Ridgefield
Mercer Island
Issaquah
Sammamish
Dupont
Pullman
Port Townsend
Mill Creek
Woodinville
Mukilteo

Read on to see why these places got into a four-year college or skip to the end to see a full chart of all the places in our analysis.

For more WA reading, check out:

How we determined the smartest places in the Evergreen State

Before we could dive into the potential IQs of various places in Washington, we needed to know which places to look at in the first place. We settled upon any place with over 5,000 people and data available for every criteria.

This left us with 118 places in Washington.

We then looked at the following criteria to determine the cream from the crop when it comes to smarts:

Our data comes directly from the latest American Community Survey from the Census.

We thought this criteria was representative of the current state of smarts with the potential for a place to improve the education levels of the next generation. And itâs not like we are setting the education bar incredibly high â 80% of students graduate from high school nowadays.

In order to determine the smartest, we ranked all the cities for each criteria from one to 118 with one being the âsmartestâ in any category.

We took the average rank across all criteria, with the place posting the highest overall score being given the diploma for âSmartest City In Washingtonâ.

If your city or town isnât among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart. Otherwise, learn more about how the top ten cities achieved their potential.

1. Ridgefield

Population: 5,373
Adults Without High School Diploma: 1.7%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Well itâs official that the tiny town of Ridgefield graduated early and has taken the diploma as the smartest city in the state of Washington.

With a population of 5,373 and a virtually non-existent high school dropout rate this town is Washingtonâs best hope for a bright future.

2. Mercer Island

Population: 23,636
Adults Without High School Diploma: 1.9%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Coming in the coveted #2 spot is the up and coming town of Mercer Island. With a population over 23,000 strong the kids here are on the road to a successful future to be sure.

Keep your eye on this city!

3. Issaquah

Population: 32,551
Adults Without High School Diploma: 1.9%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

With such great numbers itâs no wonder Issaquah came in #3 spot of the smartest cities in Washington. With only 1.9% of the adult population walking around without a high school diploma and an ultra low high school dropout rate the kids here take school pretty darn seriously.

4. Sammamish

Population: 49,077
Adults Without High School Diploma: 1.6%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.3%

Aside from the having the coolest name around the metropolitan city of Sammamish has taken the #4 spot. With a population of over 49,000 this city defies the stereotype that big cities have bad school.s

Just check out that high school dropout rate!

5. Dupont

Population: 8,851
Adults Without High School Diploma: 2.7%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Ah yes the town of Dupont. Coming in at #5 this small town is doing big things. With a virtually non-existent high school dropout rate itâs a great place to reside with such smart guys and gals.

6. Pullman

Population: 30,851
Adults Without High School Diploma: 3.0%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.1%

Pulling in at the #6 spot is city of Pullman, Washington. With only 3% of adults lacking a diploma and a population hovering around the 30,000 mark this city is one smart cookie.

7. Port Townsend

Population: 9,168
Adults Without High School Diploma: 3.4%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Port Townsend, our 7th smartest city in the state, is up and coming. With about 9,100 people calling this city home and such a low high school dropout rate this is the place to send your little ones to school.

8. Mill Creek

Population: 18,667
Adults Without High School Diploma: 3.6%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

THe city of Mill Creek, Washington has taken the #8 spot on our list. With only 3.6% of the adult population lacking a diploma the IQs here must be off the charts!

9. Woodinville

Population: 11,201
Adults Without High School Diploma: 3.7%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Who wouldnât want to live in Woodinville? At around 11,200 residents and almost zero high school dropouts this place is a haven for local geniuses.

10. Mukilteo

Population: 20,635
Adults Without High School Diploma: 2.5%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.7%

Rounding out our list of the 10 smartest cities in the state of Washington is the city of Mukilteo. They earned this spot with only 2.5% of the population lacking a high school diploma.

The kids here are not only staying in school theyâre excelling at it!

And thatâs how you graduate in style

There you have it folks, the Ten Smartest Cities in the state of Washington. They have the numbers to back it up so go ahead and visit them to soak up some of the smarts around town. If youâd like more information on different cities and states around the U.S. be sure to visit www.zippia.com to have all of your questions answered.

Detailed List Of Smartest Cities In Washington

City	Rank	Population	Adults Without High School Diploma	Teenage High School Drop Outs
Ridgefield	1	5,373	1.7%	0.0%
Mercer Island	2	23,636	1.9%	0.0%
Issaquah	3	32,551	1.9%	0.0%
Sammamish	4	49,077	1.6%	0.3%
DuPont	5	8,851	2.7%	0.0%
Pullman	6	30,851	3.0%	0.1%
Port Townsend	7	9,168	3.4%	0.0%
Mill Creek	8	18,667	3.6%	0.0%
Woodinville	9	11,201	3.7%	0.0%
Mukilteo	10	20,635	2.5%	0.7%
Bainbridge Island	11	23,206	1.5%	1.3%
Liberty Lake	12	8,027	4.2%	0.0%
Cheney	13	11,014	4.6%	0.0%
Camas	14	20,458	4.6%	0.0%
Steilacoom	15	6,083	4.8%	0.0%
Poulsbo	16	9,436	5.5%	0.0%
Newcastle	17	10,792	1.7%	2.7%
Edmonds	18	40,343	4.0%	1.1%
Bothell	19	34,920	5.7%	0.1%
Milton	20	7,260	5.1%	0.6%
Kenmore	21	21,263	6.0%	0.0%
Kirkland	22	83,320	3.5%	2.4%
Ocean Shores	23	5,609	6.5%	0.0%
University Place	24	31,670	5.4%	1.0%
Redmond	25	56,704	4.5%	2.3%
Richland	26	51,116	4.5%	2.4%
West Richland	27	12,680	6.5%	1.2%
Tumwater	28	18,128	6.2%	1.7%
Maple Valley	29	24,040	3.0%	3.7%
Bellevue	30	132,268	4.4%	3.2%
Gig Harbor	31	7,620	5.2%	2.8%
Brier	32	6,255	5.0%	3.0%
Oak Harbor	33	22,220	6.9%	2.0%
Normandy Park	34	6,491	1.5%	5.9%
Olympia	35	47,847	5.7%	2.9%
Lacey	36	44,031	6.5%	2.5%
Sequim	37	6,651	9.1%	0.0%
Lynden	38	12,579	9.3%	0.0%
Yelm	39	7,398	7.4%	2.3%
Seattle	40	637,850	6.9%	2.6%
Duvall	41	7,185	3.2%	5.3%
Snoqualmie	42	11,625	1.7%	6.5%
Port Angeles	43	19,125	8.0%	2.4%
Mountlake Terrace	44	20,318	9.0%	1.1%
Selah	45	7,328	11.7%	0.0%
Battle Ground	46	18,168	10.8%	0.7%
Anacortes	47	15,965	5.4%	5.0%
Enumclaw	48	11,388	11.8%	0.2%
Snohomish	49	9,326	6.9%	3.9%
Shoreline	50	54,254	8.6%	3.1%
Ellensburg	51	18,455	8.7%	3.1%
Bellingham	52	82,080	7.4%	4.1%
Puyallup	53	38,092	8.2%	3.5%
Port Orchard	54	12,715	7.8%	4.3%
Lake Stevens	55	29,258	8.7%	3.5%
Washougal	56	14,563	7.8%	4.5%
Spokane	57	210,142	8.7%	3.7%
Clarkston	58	7,318	15.9%	0.3%
Ephrata	59	7,888	16.3%	0.2%
Lake Forest Park	60	12,938	4.7%	11.5%
SeaTac	61	27,606	18.1%	0.0%
Fircrest	62	6,592	4.3%	15.2%
Spokane Valley	63	90,829	8.1%	6.1%
Moses Lake	64	21,141	16.9%	0.8%
Covington	65	18,361	6.9%	7.5%
Prosser	66	5,793	20.3%	0.0%
College Place	67	8,905	8.2%	6.3%
Marysville	68	62,472	10.1%	4.6%
Quincy	69	7,075	37.4%	0.0%
Centralia	70	16,664	18.8%	1.0%
Walla Walla	71	31,895	13.1%	3.2%
Sedro-Woolley	72	10,645	10.2%	5.3%
Bremerton	73	38,664	7.4%	9.5%
Aberdeen	74	16,544	17.9%	2.0%
Monroe	75	17,564	16.0%	2.7%
Bonney Lake	76	18,040	8.4%	8.2%
Lynnwood	77	36,267	11.8%	4.4%
Renton	78	95,479	11.6%	4.9%
Vancouver	79	165,554	10.6%	5.8%
Chehalis	80	7,265	15.3%	3.3%
Union Gap	81	6,061	40.2%	1.1%
Edgewood	82	9,538	8.5%	9.3%
Wenatchee	83	32,627	17.1%	3.1%
Stanwood	84	6,468	10.3%	8.1%
Sumner	85	9,548	8.8%	10.2%
Kennewick	86	75,971	13.8%	4.8%
North Bend	87	6,127	7.7%	16.8%
Federal Way	88	91,676	10.5%	8.1%
Everett	89	104,708	13.1%	5.6%
Des Moines	90	30,403	15.4%	4.4%
Airway Heights	91	6,356	8.8%	13.3%
Tacoma	92	201,794	12.5%	6.9%
Auburn	93	73,403	12.9%	6.6%
Arlington	94	18,370	11.1%	8.8%
East Wenatchee	95	13,403	19.0%	3.7%
Fife	96	9,346	10.6%	13.0%
Grandview	97	11,023	44.7%	3.4%
Kent	98	122,620	15.2%	7.2%
Orting	99	6,941	10.1%	16.7%
Burien	100	49,291	15.7%	6.4%
Longview	101	36,589	13.3%	8.8%
Lakewood	102	58,890	11.9%	14.4%
Burlington	103	8,466	15.6%	9.0%
Ferndale	104	12,040	14.1%	12.9%
Hoquiam	105	8,560	17.4%	9.1%
Mount Vernon	106	32,356	19.6%	7.8%
Pacific	107	6,845	15.3%	13.6%
Pasco	108	65,858	30.8%	6.9%
Wapato	109	5,043	58.5%	6.2%
Woodland	110	5,535	15.4%	17.9%
Tukwila	111	19,573	19.4%	10.4%
Toppenish	112	9,007	54.0%	8.4%
Yakima	113	92,806	26.8%	13.0%
Shelton	114	9,798	19.4%	14.7%
Connell	115	5,130	21.2%	15.2%
Kelso	116	11,837	20.2%	23.6%
Sunnyside	117	16,038	47.7%	15.5%
Othello	118	7,524	38.6%	23.7%