Olympic Peninsula west, Washington
USA · Clallam / Jefferson counties: Forks, Sol Duc, Hoh, Clallam Bay
Why it ranks
100–140 inches of rain, micro‑hydro on every creek, mild zone‑8 temperatures, wilderness at the fence line.
What drags it down
Poor solar, cloudy, and the Cascadia subduction zone (geo −9; buy inland above 30 m and it's −8).
Water
Headwaters inside Olympic National Park; no mining, no nuclear (Hanford is 300 miles east); logging clearcuts and herbicides are the issue.
Land prices
$5–15k est. (≈20–40 ac)estimate
(est.) $5–15k/acre. $250k ≈ 20–40 acres.
Hospital
Forks Community Hospital (critical access) 15–30 min; Port Angeles 1–1.5 hr; Seattle 4 hr.
Buying as a US citizen
Open to anyone.
Surf
+5: La Push and Hobuck, cold and consistent, October–April.
The numbers behind the score
Water & food
- Water supply100
- Watershed integrity88
- Food capacity64
Climate safety
- Extreme weather88
- Wildfire + flood75
- 50‑yr climate trajectory100
- Geological hazard10
Off-grid energy
- Energy self‑sufficiency71
Out of the line of fire
- Stability / rule of law70
- Strategic exposure—
Cost
- Price per acre60
- Holding costsUS passport75
- Ownership ease (US citizen)US passport100
Access & care
- Hospital distance75
Room to breathe
- Population pressure100
Data as of 2026-10-22. Scores combine public datasets and researched figures; prices are indicative ranges, not listings. Not legal, financial or immigration advice. Verify locally before you buy.