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Living in
Poulsbo.
About
Life in Poulsbo
Poulsbo is a community of 11,962 people in Washington. The median household income is $116,250, median rent runs about $1,886 per month, and median home values are around $620,100. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.
Poulsbo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
+6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Trinidad and Tobago
Who lives in Poulsbo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Poulsbo, the largest foreign-born group is from Trinidad and Tobago (27.1%), and 4.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.3%
of residents
65 and Older
21.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.8%
of households
Married Couples
49.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 7% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Poulsbo
In Poulsbo, rent runs 7% above the WA average, and home values are 10% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,503
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $663,190 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Poulsbo
Unemployment in Kitsap County, which includes Poulsbo, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Poulsbo: Kitsap County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kitsap County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Poulsbo is about 4% of Kitsap County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Poulsbo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.3 min avg
How Poulsbo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Poulsbo, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
Regional airport · few flights306k passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Poulsbo runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
102.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,651.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Poulsbo 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 Poulsbo, 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.
27 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kitsap County, county-wide
Poulsbo is about 4% of Kitsap County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality22 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kitsap County, which includes Poulsbo, 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
Poulsbo is about 4% of Kitsap County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Poulsbo 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
41.7"
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 Poulsbo
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Poulsbo's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Michael Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.1 mi away · Silverdale
Swedish Edmonds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Edmonds
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.
Education20.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Poulsbo
Poulsbo's student/teacher ratio is 20.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 49.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Poulsbo (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 3,826 students · in-state tuition $4,202 · 46% graduate · median earnings $48,582 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,046 students · in-state tuition $5,232 · 47% graduate · median earnings $56,341 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,762 students · in-state tuition $44,367 · 65% graduate · median earnings $71,277 (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, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Poulsbo
Poulsbo has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
18 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
33 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
48 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
75 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Poulsbo
Poulsbo Library
700 Ne Lincoln St., Poulsbo
Cities Near Poulsbo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Poulsbo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Poulsbo FAQ
Is Poulsbo, Washington affordable?⌄
Poulsbo's median rent is $1,886/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $116,250/year. Median home value is $620,100.
Is Poulsbo, Washington safe?⌄
Poulsbo's violent crime rate was 102 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 1652 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Poulsbo, Washington?⌄
Kitsap County, which includes Poulsbo, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Poulsbo, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Poulsbo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,886/month and median household income is $116,250/year. The median home value is $620,100. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Poulsbo, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Poulsbo is 28 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