Washington Towns Losing the Most Residents in 2026 – Is Your City on the List?

Washington State is home to around 8 million people but the latest estimates from the U.S. Census. Their list with new population estimates was updated in April of this year.

While some residents are feeling the financial strain of crazy high state taxes and finding it a challenge to remain living in Washington due to the unbearable cost of living increases, the small towns we're expecting to see the biggest population drop this year don't necessarily have a high cost of living.

Read More: Washington’s ‘Happiest City’ Revealed — But Can You Afford to Live There

Local Shenanigans Reveal What's Behind Big Moves Away from WA Towns

Central and Eastern Washington and Snohomish and Okanogan counties are the regions with the highest expected population decline this year.

These natural reasons for some expected losses apply to fluid college towns like Cheney, and tiny towns like Naches and Twisp, where recent flooding and wildfires have affected some residents, causing them to relocate quickly.

Other cities, however, I didn't expect to see on the list, like Wapato in the Lower Yakima Valley, or scenic coastal towns like Ilwaco.

I'm a Washington transplant as of 2002; I moved away from Tennessee for a fresh start in a new career. I've lived in the same Washington town ever since, although I'd be happy to move away if the conditions (and price of rent) are right.

A Peek at Where Population Losses Could Be the Biggest

Census data shows which of our towns are at risk of losing the most residents in Washington State. Pullman and Connell have the biggest estimated loss for 2026.

Western Washington

• Granite Falls (Snohomish County)
• Hamilton (Skagit County)
• Ilwaco (Pacific County)
• Monroe (Snohomish County)
• Port Angeles (Clallam County)
• Woodway (Snohomish County)

a river running through a valley

Central Washington

• Connell (Franklin County)
• Electric City (Grant County)
• Naches (Yakima County)
• Okanogan (Okanogan County)
• Tonasket (Okanogan County)
• Twisp (Okanogan County)
• Wapato (Yakima County)

white and brown train on snow covered ground during daytime

Eastern Washington

• Cheney (Spokane County)
• Dayton (Columbia County)
• Kettle Falls (Stevens County)
• Medical Lake (Spokane County)
• Metaline (Pend Oreille County)
• Prescott (Walla Walla County)
• Pullman (Whitman County)
• Starbuck (Columbia County)

a house in a field with a mountain in the background

One town that didn't make the list is Yelm, a place that Hollywood actress Salma Hayek calls one of her private escapes. See the list of other famous people who have made a home here in Washington even though they could be living anywhere else in the world.