What it's like to live in Port Angeles
Port Angeles is a small city in Washington with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Port Angeles deals with household incomes below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Clean air
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Port Angeles compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Port Angeles
Based on Port Angeles's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,340
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $46,800 a year
- 57% of Port Angeles renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,020
- Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 17% below US
$1,170/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,170 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $370,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $370,200 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Clallam County is 5.0%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Clallam County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 16% above US
382 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2215/100k · Port Angeles Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 36% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.7 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 66°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 16% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 30% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Olympic National Park (24 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Port Angeles's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,170/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Port Angeles
All Washington guides →Moving to Port Townsend →
31 mi away · pop. 10,438
Rent $1,578/mo · Income $62,606
Compare with Port Angeles →Moving to Oak Harbor →
40 mi away · pop. 24,362
Rent $1,645/mo · Income $76,084
Compare with Port Angeles →Moving to Camano →
45 mi away · pop. 17,303
Rent $1,896/mo · Income $105,231
Compare with Port Angeles →Moving to Poulsbo →
45 mi away · pop. 12,165
Rent $1,886/mo · Income $116,250
Compare with Port Angeles →Not sure Port Angeles is the one?
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