Best Places To Live In Clallam County 2026 Revealed

A new ranking is spotlighting where people most want to live in Clallam County, and the results may not be what you expect.

New data from Niche shows three communities rising to the top for 2026, each earning a B+ overall grade based on factors like affordability, schools, and quality of life.

Top Places To Live In Clallam County (2026):

#1 Forks — Overall grade B+
#2 Bell Hill — Overall grade B+
#3 River Road — Overall grade B+

Top Spots To Know

Forks

Forks earned a B+ overall grade from Niche and scored especially well for diversity, outdoor activities, weather, commute, nightlife, housing, cost of living, jobs, and family life.

The town received an A for diversity, an A- for outdoor activities, an A- for weather, a B+ for nightlife, a B for housing, a B for cost of living, a B for jobs, and a B for families.

It also received a B- for crime and safety, a B- for health and fitness, and a C for public schools. With a median home value of $227,000 and median rent of $921, Forks stands out as the most affordable of the three top-ranked communities.

Bell Hill

Bell Hill earned a B+ overall grade and ranked No. 2 among the best places to retire in Washington, according to Niche.

The area scored especially high for weather, health and fitness, and outdoor activities. It received an A+ for weather, an A for health and fitness, and an A for outdoor activities.

Bell Hill also received a B+ for nightlife, a B for families, a B- for public schools, a C+ for jobs, a C for housing, a C for cost of living, and a C- for diversity. Its median home value is $847,300, making it the most expensive of the three top-ranked areas.

River Road

River Road also earned a B+ overall grade and posted some of the most balanced marks in the ranking.

The area received an A+ for weather, an A for health and fitness, an A for outdoor activities, and an A- for nightlife. It also scored a B+ for families, a B for housing, a B for cost of living, a B- for public schools, a B- for diversity, a B- for jobs, and a B- for commute.

River Road has a median home value of $388,900 and median rent of $896. Its median household income is $132,841, well above the national figure of $80,734.

What Stands Out

Outdoor living is a major theme. All three top-ranked areas scored high in outdoor activities and weather, reflecting the region’s natural appeal.

Affordability varies widely. Forks offers entry-level pricing, while Bell Hill sits at the higher end, showing how different the market can be within the same county.

Lifestyle differences are clear. Some areas lean toward retirees, while others are better suited for families or buyers focused on value.

The Bottom Line

Clallam County doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all “best” place to live. Instead, the top spots reflect different priorities — whether that’s affordability, retirement living, or income and stability.