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Living in
Bainbridge Island.
About
Life in Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is a short ferry ride across Puget Sound from downtown Seattle, and that ferry defines life here: commutes average about 37 minutes, and about 40% of workers do their jobs from home. Incomes are high, with a median household income of $172,188, about double the national median, and 76% of adults holding a college degree. The median home value is $1,155,900, and about 81% of households own.
Bainbridge Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Foreign-Born
7.8%
Broadband Internet
97.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.8% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Bainbridge Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bainbridge Island, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (15.3%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
27.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.4%
of households
Married Couples
68.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
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 25% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Bainbridge Island
In Bainbridge Island, rent runs 25% above the WA average, and home values are 105% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,860
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
81.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,170,933 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Bainbridge Island
Unemployment in Bainbridge Island is 0.9 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bainbridge Island Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute37.3 min avg
How Bainbridge Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bainbridge Island, most residents work from home to work (40%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI)
Regional airport · few flights31k passengers boarded in 2025
- 17 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 89% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bainbridge Island runs 89% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
36.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
647.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bainbridge Island Police Department
Natural DisastersTornado most common — 1 event in 2018
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kitsap County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kitsap County, which includes Bainbridge Island, the most common type is tornado, with 1 recorded event in 2018.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | Tornado | $1.2M |
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.
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kitsap County, county-wide
Air Quality22 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kitsap County, which includes Bainbridge Island, is typically good — 340 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
22
Good Days
340
per year
Moderate Days
16
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Kitsap County, county-wide
Climate75°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bainbridge Island has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.2"
Annual Snowfall
3.0"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
42
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
167
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 36°F | 9.28" |
| Feb | 49°F | 35°F | 5.83" |
| Mar | 54°F | 38°F | 6.37" |
| Apr | 59°F | 41°F | 3.86" |
| May | 66°F | 47°F | 2.36" |
| Jun | 70°F | 51°F | 1.61" |
| Jul | 77°F | 55°F | 0.83" |
| Aug | 77°F | 55°F | 1.09" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 1.80" |
| Oct | 61°F | 45°F | 5.14" |
| Nov | 51°F | 39°F | 8.84" |
| Dec | 46°F | 35°F | 9.92" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bainbridge Island
Uninsured
2.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bainbridge Island's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Michael Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.5 mi away · Silverdale
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Seattle
Harborview Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.5 mi away · Seattle
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.
Education18.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island's student/teacher ratio is 18.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 76.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
76.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bainbridge Island (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
9.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,942 students · in-state tuition $13,406 · 85% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,062 students · in-state tuition $58,965 · 74% graduate · median earnings $84,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,953 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 42% graduate · median earnings $48,906 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,826 students · in-state tuition $4,202 · 46% graduate · median earnings $48,582 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,656 students · in-state tuition $4,953 · 42% graduate · median earnings $54,434 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,046 students · in-state tuition $5,232 · 47% graduate · median earnings $56,341 (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: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
10 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
40 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
55 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
65 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
66 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island Library
1270 Madison N., Bainbridge Island
Cities Near Bainbridge Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bainbridge Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bainbridge Island FAQ
Is Bainbridge Island, Washington affordable?⌄
Bainbridge Island's median rent is $2,194/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $172,188/year. Median home value is $1,155,900.
Is Bainbridge Island, Washington safe?⌄
Bainbridge Island's violent crime rate was 37 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 647 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bainbridge Island, Washington?⌄
Bainbridge Island has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bainbridge Island, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Bainbridge Island is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,194/month and median household income is $172,188/year. The median home value is $1,155,900. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bainbridge Island, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Bainbridge Island is 37 minutes, which is longer than 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