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Living in
Anacortes.
About
Life in Anacortes
This waterfront city of about 17,600 people on Fidalgo Island offers something genuinely rare in the Pacific Northwest—a tight-knit community where you're not paying Seattle prices but still get serious outdoor access and a robust local economy. The median home sits around $697,000 and rent runs about $1,702 a month, which is considerably more manageable than the Puget Sound corridor while staying competitive with regional markets. What actually keeps people here year-round is the lifestyle-to-cost balance and that genuine Pacific Northwest small-town feel.
Anacortes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
50.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
93.3%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Anacortes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Anacortes, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (19.1%), and 2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.3%
of residents
65 and Older
32.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.1%
of households
Married Couples
53.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Anacortes
In Anacortes, home values are 23% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,683
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $712,903 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Anacortes
Unemployment in Skagit County, which includes Anacortes, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Anacortes: Skagit County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Skagit County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Anacortes Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.7 min avg
How Anacortes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Anacortes, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS)
Regional airport · few flights5,419 passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Anacortes runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
71.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,242.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Anacortes Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 1 event in 2024
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Skagit County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Skagit County, which includes Anacortes, the most common type is flood, with 1 recorded event in 2024.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | Flash Flood | $103,400 |
| 2021 | 2 | Flood | $15.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
23 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Skagit County, county-wide
Air Quality25 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Skagit County, which includes Anacortes, is typically good — 354 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
25
Good Days
354
per year
Moderate Days
9
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Skagit County, county-wide
Climate73°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Anacortes has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.0"
Annual Snowfall
5.4"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
30
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
150
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 37°F | 3.93" |
| Feb | 51°F | 37°F | 2.58" |
| Mar | 54°F | 40°F | 2.42" |
| Apr | 59°F | 43°F | 2.06" |
| May | 66°F | 48°F | 1.86" |
| Jun | 70°F | 52°F | 1.50" |
| Jul | 75°F | 54°F | 0.76" |
| Aug | 75°F | 54°F | 1.38" |
| Sep | 70°F | 51°F | 1.55" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 2.78" |
| Nov | 53°F | 40°F | 4.36" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 3.78" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Anacortes
Anacortes has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Island Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Skagit Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.7 mi away · Mount Vernon
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Anacortes
Anacortes's student/teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 47.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Anacortes (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 2,477 students · in-state tuition $5,700 · 49% graduate · median earnings $50,327 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Anacortes
Anacortes has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
19 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
63 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
67 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Anacortes
Anacortes Public Library
1220 10th St, Anacortes
Cities Near Anacortes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Anacortes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Anacortes FAQ
Is Anacortes, Washington affordable?⌄
Anacortes's median rent is $1,702/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $91,951/year. Median home value is $696,700.
Is Anacortes, Washington safe?⌄
Anacortes's violent crime rate was 71 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1243 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Anacortes, Washington?⌄
Skagit County, which includes Anacortes, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Anacortes, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Anacortes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,702/month and median household income is $91,951/year. The median home value is $696,700. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Anacortes, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Anacortes is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from