Why Spokane Continues to Attract Retirees from Across the Country

Published: June 2025 | Reading time: 8 min

Something is happening in Eastern Washington. Year after year, retirees from California, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and beyond are packing up and making the move to Spokane and they're not looking back.

It's not a coincidence, and it's not just word of mouth. Forbes named Spokane one of the best places to retire for multiple consecutive years, including its 2025 list, citing affordability, safety, quality of life, and access to healthcare. Investopedia has recognized it among America's top 100 retirement destinations. And with around 23,000 more people expected to call Spokane home in the next two decades, the city's momentum is only building.

So what is it, exactly, that keeps drawing retirees to this mid-sized city on the banks of the Spokane River? The honest answer is: quite a lot.

1. Washington State Has No Income Tax — and That's a Big Deal

For retirees living on Social Security, pension income, or retirement account distributions, taxes matter enormously. Washington State levies no personal income tax, which means your Social Security benefits, IRA withdrawals, and pension checks aren't subject to state-level income taxation. For many retirees relocating from states like California, Oregon, or Colorado (where retirement income can be taxed at significant rates) this alone represents thousands of dollars in annual savings.

Washington does have a state estate tax and a 7% capital gains excise tax on investment gains above $250,000, so it's worth consulting a financial planner before making the move. But for the majority of retirees, the no-income-tax advantage is a meaningful and lasting financial benefit that makes Spokane's already-reasonable cost of living stretch even further.

2. Housing That's Still Attainable (Compared to the Coast)

The story of retirement migration out of California, Seattle, and Portland is largely a housing story. When coastal home values climb beyond reach, many retirees find that selling their home and buying in Spokane frees up significant equity, enough to downsize comfortably, eliminate a mortgage, or simply reset their financial footing.

Spokane's median home price runs roughly 3% below the national median, a stark contrast to the Pacific coast markets many retirees are leaving behind. That gap translates into real choices: a craftsman bungalow near Manito Park, a low-maintenance townhome in Kendall Yards, or a quiet South Hill property with a backyard and room for grandchildren.

Spokane is not as inexpensive as it once was as the market has grown as demand has increased, but it remains one of the more attainable mid-sized cities in the Pacific Northwest, especially for buyers coming from higher-cost regions.

3. Outdoor Recreation, 365 Days a Year

If there's one thing Spokane retirees mention again and again, it's this: the sheer amount of nature on their doorstep.

The Spokane River Centennial Trail is the crown jewel; a 40-mile paved multi-use path with 18 marked trailheads, running from the Idaho state line through the heart of downtown and out toward Nine Mile Falls. Used by nearly 2 million people annually, it's the backbone of active daily life for countless Spokane residents.

Beyond the trail, the options are almost overwhelming:

• Summer: Fly fishing the Spokane River, boating and swimming at Liberty Lake and Newman Lake, hiking in Riverside State Park, kayaking from downtown, and rounds of golf on dozens of public and private courses across the region.
• Fall: Wine tasting among the farms and orchards of Green Bluff, hiking through the golden larch forests of the Selkirks, and the blazing fall colors along the river.
• Winter: Skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Spokane and 49 Degrees North, snowshoeing through more than 100 miles of alpine trails at Mount Spokane State Park, and cross-country skiing through the Selkirk Mountains.
• Spring: The Lilac Festival, Bloomsday (one of the world's largest timed road races), wildflower hikes, and the return of the Centennial Trail in full bloom.

For retirees who spent decades dreaming of a more active, outdoor-focused life, Spokane doesn't ask them to choose a season. It delivers all four.

4. Healthcare You Can Count On

Access to quality medical care is non-negotiable in retirement, and Spokane delivers. The city serves as the healthcare hub for the entire Inland Northwest region, with 14 hospitals and medical centers within 50 miles.

Within Spokane itself, two major systems anchor healthcare access:

• Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, recognized on Healthgrades' America's 100 Best Coronary Intervention list, a meaningful distinction for cardiac patients and older adults managing heart health.
• MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, which earns high patient satisfaction ratings, with 66% of interviewed patients saying they would "definitely recommend" it.

The city also has strong ratios of primary care physicians per capita and access to specialized services including cardiology and orthopedic care, the disciplines that matter most as we age.

One honest note: healthcare costs in Spokane run slightly above the national average, which is worth factoring into retirement planning. But for most retirees, the combination of proximity, quality, and the no-income-tax savings more than offsets that gap.

5. A City That Feels Manageable — Without Feeling Small

One of the consistent things retirees say about Spokane is that it hits a sweet spot: big enough to have everything you need, small enough that life still feels livable.

With a population of around 230,000, Spokane is a real city, one with an international airport, a thriving restaurant scene, major hospital systems, a symphony orchestra, touring Broadway productions at the historic Fox Theater, and a Smithsonian-affiliate museum in the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (The MAC). Gonzaga University brings a constant stream of cultural programming, lectures, and community energy to the city.

And yet, unlike Seattle or Portland, Spokane doesn't ask you to fight for it. Traffic is manageable. Errands don't consume half the day. Parking exists. There's breathing room.

For retirees escaping the intensity of coastal metro living, that combination, genuine amenities without the grind, is remarkably hard to find. Spokane offers it naturally.

6. Culture, Community, and Events That Bring People Together

Retirement is as much about connection as it is about logistics, and Spokane's calendar gives retirees plenty of reasons to get out of the house.

Bloomsday, held each May, draws tens of thousands of participants for one of the country's largest timed road races and it's as much community celebration as athletic event. The Lilac Festival fills the city each spring with parades, garden tours, and neighborhood gatherings. Hoopfest, the world's largest three-on-one basketball tournament, takes over downtown streets every June. The Kendall Yards Night Market runs weekly from May through September, with over 90 local vendors, fresh produce, and live music just steps from the river.

The First Friday Art Walk draws locals into the Davenport Arts District galleries every month. The Spokane Symphony performs year-round at the Fox Theater. And farmers markets — from the Perry District to the South Hill — give retirees the kind of regular, low-key social infrastructure that makes community feel effortless.

This is a city where it's easy to stay engaged.

7. Walkable Neighborhoods Designed for an Active Life

Retirement living doesn't have to mean car dependency, and Spokane's most desirable neighborhoods make that possible. Kendall Yards offers riverside trail access, walkable restaurants, and the Centennial Trail right out the door. The Manito neighborhood wraps around 90 acres of botanical gardens with wheelchair-accessible paths. The Perry District and Emerson-Garfield offer the kind of walkable commercial streets with coffee shops, farmers markets, local restaurants that make daily life richer without requiring a car.

For retirees who want to keep moving, these neighborhoods provide the kind of built-in daily activity that supports long-term health and independence.

8. A Gateway to the Broader Inland Northwest

Part of Spokane's appeal is geographic. Sitting at the crossroads of Eastern Washington and the Idaho panhandle, Spokane puts retirees within easy reach of:

• Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — 30 minutes east, with a stunning lake, resort amenities, and a vibrant small-city feel
• The Columbia River wine country — under two hours southwest, with dozens of world-class wineries
• Seattle and the Pacific Coast — roughly five hours west when family calls or the ocean beckons
• Glacier National Park and the Northern Rockies — a day's drive for serious adventure

For retirees who don't want to be locked into one place, Spokane's location makes it an ideal base for a broader Pacific Northwest life.

Is Spokane Right for You?

Spokane won't be for everyone. Winters are real with cold, with meaningful snowfall and those who need mild year-round weather may prefer a different climate. Healthcare costs, while accessible, do run slightly above average. And like any growing city, certain neighborhoods have their challenges.

But for retirees who want financial breathing room, four seasons of outdoor adventure, genuine community, quality healthcare, and a city that feels like a place rather than a backdrop, Spokane checks boxes that are increasingly hard to find at this price point, in this region, with this much to offer.

It's not a secret anymore. But it's still very much a find.

Tags: Spokane WA, retiring in Spokane, best places to retire, Inland Northwest, Washington state no income tax, Spokane real estate, active retirement, Spokane outdoor recreation, Forbes best places to retire, Spokane healthcare, 55+ living, retirement relocation