‘A jaw-dropping number’: Jake, Spike dig into why new study ranked WA dead last in safety

Washington was listed at No. 33 in WalletHub’s 2026 “Best States to Live In” ranking, which compared all 50 states across several indicators, including affordability, economy, education, quality of life, and safety. Idaho topped the list, followed by New Jersey and Wisconsin.

Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, honed in on the category that dragged Washington to the bottom third of the list: safety, where the state ranked 50th out of 50.

“That’s just a jaw-dropping number right there,” Spike said.

Jake pointed to property crime, violent crime, and the number of police per capita as the factors behind the ranking, all issues the hosts said they cover regularly on the show.

“Our biggest city is Seattle, and you talk about how they don’t have enough police officers, and then you talk about events recently, like Bite of Seattle, where you literally have a mass shooting,” Jake said. “Wouldn’t it have been better if there was a lot of police there to prevent it in the first place?”

Jake, Spike shared what matters most when picking a place to live

The hosts asked listeners what criteria they prioritize when choosing a state. Spike said his move to Washington at 26 was driven purely by a job opportunity, but noted that his recently married daughter and son-in-law are focused on something else entirely.

“Their number one factor in where they’re going to spend their future is affordability,” Spike said. “Where they can afford to start a family.”

Jake said proximity to family outweighs everything else for him, even Washington’s high cost of living. He said growing up far from his extended family in California made him determined to keep his own kids close to their grandparents.

“My 11-year-old son is doing work on my parents’ property three days a week. He’s with Grandpa. He’s like Grandpa’s little work buddy this summer,” Jake said. “Those are memories he’s gonna have for the rest of his life.”

Still, both hosts admitted they can’t help but look around when they travel. Spike said he eyes small towns on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Jake said the same thing happens when he drives through Montana and Idaho.

“You drive through, and you’re just like, ‘you could buy a house for how much?'” Jake said. “$250,000. That’s insane, with land and an apple orchard. It’s crazy.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3