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Living in
Port Townsend.
About
Life in Port Townsend
Port Townsend is a community of 10,290 people in Washington. The median household income is $62,606, median rent runs about $1,578 per month, and median home values are around $543,400. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.
Port Townsend at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
60.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
4.2%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
+5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.2% foreign-born, most often from United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland
Who lives in Port Townsend: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Port Townsend, the largest foreign-born group is from United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland (12.8%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
11.7%
of residents
65 and Older
43.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
16.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.9%
of households
Married Couples
35.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.79
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 10% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Port Townsend
In Port Townsend, rent runs 10% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,969
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $626,891 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above WA average
Unemployment in Port Townsend
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Port Townsend, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Port Townsend: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Port Townsend Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.6 min avg
How Port Townsend residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Port Townsend, most residents drive alone to work (54%), and 90% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
Regional airport · few flights306k passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 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 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Port Townsend runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
213.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,244
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Port Townsend Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 2 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
64.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Port Townsend, the most common type is flood, with 2 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | Heavy Rain | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $554,000 |
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.
24 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality20 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Port Townsend, is typically good — 326 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
20
Good Days
326
per year
Moderate Days
9
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate71°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Port Townsend has mild summers (avg high 71°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
71°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
24.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.6"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
14
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
141
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 38°F | 2.24" |
| Feb | 49°F | 38°F | 1.61" |
| Mar | 52°F | 40°F | 1.85" |
| Apr | 58°F | 43°F | 1.53" |
| May | 63°F | 47°F | 1.52" |
| Jun | 68°F | 51°F | 1.37" |
| Jul | 73°F | 53°F | 0.73" |
| Aug | 73°F | 54°F | 0.54" |
| Sep | 68°F | 51°F | 1.10" |
| Oct | 58°F | 46°F | 1.64" |
| Nov | 50°F | 41°F | 2.43" |
| Dec | 45°F | 38°F | 2.58" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Port Townsend
Port Townsend has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Jefferson Healthcare
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Whidbeyhealth Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Coupeville
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.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Port Townsend
Port Townsend's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 53.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Port Townsend
Port Townsend has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
8 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
42 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
46 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Port Townsend
Port Townsend Public Library
1220 Lawrence Street, Port Townsend
Cities Near Port Townsend
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Port Townsend?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Port Townsend FAQ
Is Port Townsend, Washington affordable?⌄
Port Townsend's median rent is $1,578/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $62,606/year. Median home value is $543,400.
Is Port Townsend, Washington safe?⌄
Port Townsend's violent crime rate was 214 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1244 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Port Townsend, Washington?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Port Townsend, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Port Townsend, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Port Townsend is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,578/month and median household income is $62,606/year. The median home value is $543,400. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Port Townsend, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Port Townsend is 15 minutes, which is shorter 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