#9 Mukilteo WINNER Top 100 rank: 9Population: 20,300 Unemployment: 8.2%*Compare Mukilteo to Top 10 Best Places As West Coast towns go, Mukilteo (pronounced MUCK-ill-TEE-oh) is in good economic shape. Bank-owned homes represent a small fraction of houses on the market, and area employers, including Boeing, are hiring again. It has affordable homes by Seattle standards, good schools, and a killer location right on Puget Sound. And the town is spending to beef up its attractions: A new 29,000-square-foot community center debuted in February, and historic Lighthouse Park recently got a makeover. --S.M. #18 Newcastle WINNER (2 comments)