Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater are all pretty safe and affordable with the smaller town feel (especially Tumwater) that are on the sound. Marysville (just north of Everett is pretty affordable too. I wouldn’t recommend Shelton, as it is a dying community.

Just south of there centralia/chehalis are smaller with a little bit more crime but also very affordable. Around there is Tenino for that super small town vibe

On the coastline ocean shores is nice but kind of expensive, forks is cheap and safe but small and away from everything. Port Angeles is bigger,more expensive with more crime (but still very safe)

Middle of the state, Ellensburg is really nice affordable and pretty safe, Wenatchee is also good too. Keep in mind the middle and east side of the state are red. So if that is a deal breaker disregard the rest of this comment.

East side walla walla has gotten expensive but is pretty nice (a little flat though) Spokane is great but the crime and price has risen. Newport and colville are both very small towns but are cheap and about an hour from Spokane.