Washington's burgeoning wine industry is relatively new (the first local winery sprouted up in 1977), but no less than 64 wineries and 40 vineyards call Walla Walla and the surrounding Walla Walla Valley home.  Outside of town, the fertile hills are covered with grapevines (and wheat fields and onion fields), and inside city limits, tasting rooms, tucked away in nineteenth-century, Italianate-style commercial buildings, dot the downtown. It is very easy to spend an afternoon sampling many delicious vintages without venturing more than a few blocks.  Sandwiched between the tasting rooms are some top-tier restaurants (everything from sushi to steaks), casual coffee shops, busy bookstores and mom and pop shops, as well as all sorts of art galleries, museums, studios and antique shops, all very quaint and not overrun with tourists.

The median home price in Walla Walla is $190,000, and historic single family homes, average ranch-style homes, standard bi-level homes, town homes, condos and apartments are all available.   The southern end of town tends to be the most desirable, and the neighborhoods around Whitman College, a small, well-regarded liberal arts college, are older and have lots of character.   Many historic homes are well within walking distance of downtown (overall, this is a walkable city, although Valley Transit does provide public transportation).  

When it comes to property taxes, residences are taxed at $14.42 per $1,000 in assessed value, and residences are assessed at 100% of fair market value.  The annual tax on a $200,000 home in the city would be $2,884.  For citizens that are age 61 or better and whose annual household income is $35,000 or less, the state offers tax discounts.  Washington also has no state income tax.

Walla Walla is a bit remote, about four hours driving time from Seattle and Portland; the nearest Interstate is forty miles away, and the local airport operates just four commercial flights.   It is its location, however, that has kept Walla Walla's growth from getting out of hand and helped the city maintain its gentle, small town way of life.   While not a bastion of cultural sophistication, the city does boast the Carnegie Art Center, the Walla Walla Symphony and free summer concerts in addition to the wine industry.   Things are generally pretty quiet in the evenings, though, and retirees seeking an active nightlife, something more than excellent dining options, may be disappointed.    The crime rate is slightly above average, but violent crimes are rare.

 This is an interactive map.  Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on (more than once if necessary) the +/- signs to zoom in and out.

For outdoor activities, there are 17 public parks, five golf courses and miles of flat bicycling trails.  The nearby pretty Blue Mountains offer opportunities for hiking, camping and bird-watching.   Summer weather is warm and dry with lots of sunshine (temperatures are in the 80s), but winter weather can be a bit dreary with gray skies, fog, several inches of snow each month and temperatures in the 20s and 30s.

The Center at the Park is the local senior center and offers tours, classes (aerobics, Tai Chi, painting, cooking, etc.), potlucks and card games to anyone age 50+.  Congregate meals are provided for those age 60+ (donation requested), and Meals on Wheels is active.

A Walla Walla retirement has some drawbacks, such as the winter weather and the fact that the city is somewhat isolated.   Nightlife is limited, and the pace of life may be a little too slow for some.   Washington State Penitentiary (2,000 inmates) is also located here, which may be off-putting to a few, but the facility contributes substantially to the local economy.

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