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Living in
Gig Harbor.
About
Life in Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor is a community of 12,202 people in Washington. The median household income is $118,395, median rent runs about $2,301 per month, and median home values are around $767,000. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.
Gig Harbor at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
95.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Gig Harbor: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gig Harbor, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (22.8%), and 1.7% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
21.6%
of residents
65 and Older
30.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.8%
of households
Married Couples
54.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
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 31% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Gig Harbor
In Gig Harbor, rent runs 31% above the WA average, and home values are 36% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,199
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $811,439 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Gig Harbor and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pierce County, which includes Gig Harbor, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Gig Harbor: Pierce County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pierce County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Gig Harbor is about 1% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Gig Harbor Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute32.3 min avg
How Gig Harbor residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gig Harbor, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 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 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gig Harbor runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
281.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,346.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gig Harbor Police Department
Natural Disasters
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Pierce County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Data not yet available
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Pierce County, which includes Gig Harbor, is typically good — 267 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
267
per year
Moderate Days
98
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Pierce County, county-wide
Gig Harbor is about 1% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate74°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gig Harbor has mild summers (avg high 74°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
74°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
21
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 36°F | 6.06" |
| Feb | 48°F | 37°F | 4.11" |
| Mar | 53°F | 39°F | 4.63" |
| Apr | 58°F | 41°F | 3.39" |
| May | 65°F | 47°F | 2.08" |
| Jun | 70°F | 51°F | 1.36" |
| Jul | 76°F | 54°F | 0.68" |
| Aug | 76°F | 54°F | 0.86" |
| Sep | 70°F | 51°F | 1.54" |
| Oct | 59°F | 46°F | 4.32" |
| Nov | 51°F | 40°F | 7.18" |
| Dec | 46°F | 36°F | 5.81" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
St Anthony Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 8.4 mi away · Tacoma
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Tacoma
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Tacoma
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.
Education20.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor's student/teacher ratio is 20.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 52.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Gig Harbor (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 5,313 students · in-state tuition $5,578 · 42% graduate · median earnings $52,562 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,668 students · in-state tuition $5,670 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,313 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
9.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,401 students · in-state tuition $53,096 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,109 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,594 students · in-state tuition $65,886 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,918 (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, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
22 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
53 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
59 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
61 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor Library
4424 Point Fosdick Drive, Gig Harbor
Cities Near Gig Harbor
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gig Harbor?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gig Harbor FAQ
Is Gig Harbor, Washington affordable?⌄
Gig Harbor's median rent is $2,301/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $118,395/year. Median home value is $767,100.
Is Gig Harbor, Washington safe?⌄
Gig Harbor's violent crime rate was 282 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2346 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gig Harbor, Washington?⌄
Pierce County, which includes Gig Harbor, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gig Harbor, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Gig Harbor is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,301/month and median household income is $118,395/year. The median home value is $767,100. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gig Harbor, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Gig Harbor is 32 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