What it's like to live in Oak Harbor
Oak Harbor is a small city in Washington with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Oak Harbor deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Oak Harbor compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Oak Harbor
Based on Oak Harbor's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,290
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,800 a year
- 52% of Oak Harbor renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$92,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $46,120
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 16% above US
$1,645/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,645 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $461,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $461,200 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Island County is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Island County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 61% below US
129 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 940/100k · Oak Harbor Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 29% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 68°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 20% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (6 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Oak Harbor's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,645/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Oak Harbor
All Washington guides →Moving to Anacortes →
14 mi away · pop. 17,966
Rent $1,702/mo · Income $91,951
Compare with Oak Harbor →Moving to Port Townsend →
14 mi away · pop. 10,438
Rent $1,578/mo · Income $62,606
Compare with Oak Harbor →Moving to Mount Vernon →
17 mi away · pop. 35,377
Rent $1,405/mo · Income $75,777
Compare with Oak Harbor →Not sure Oak Harbor is the one?
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