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Living in
Port Washington.
About
Life in Port Washington
Port Washington is a community of 12,569 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $81,582, median rent runs about $1,008 per month, and median home values are around $296,000. Unemployment is low at 2.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Port Washington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Venezuela
Who lives in Port Washington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Port Washington, the largest foreign-born group is from Venezuela (21.6%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.6%
of residents
65 and Older
19.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.1%
of households
Married Couples
46.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
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% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Port Washington
In Port Washington, rent runs 7% below the WI average, and home values are 11% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,711
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $394,015 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WI average
Unemployment in Port Washington and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Ozaukee County, which includes Port Washington, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Port Washington: Ozaukee County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ozaukee County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Port Washington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI metro area
Commute21 min avg
How Port Washington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Port Washington, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 97 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 81% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Port Washington runs 81% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
62.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
226
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Port Washington Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
50.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ozaukee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ozaukee County, which includes Port Washington, the most common type is winter weather, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Winter Weather | $506,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Winter Weather | $34,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Winter Storm | $18,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | $58,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Winter Weather | $14,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Winter Weather | $98,500 |
| 2019 | 24 | Winter Weather | $38,000 |
| 2018 | 23 | Winter Weather | $875,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ozaukee County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ozaukee County, which includes Port Washington, is typically good — 277 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
277
per year
Moderate Days
73
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Ozaukee County, county-wide
Climate76°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Port Washington has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
51°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.0"
Annual Snowfall
42.3"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 1.76" |
| Feb | 34°F | 16°F | 1.48" |
| Mar | 42°F | 25°F | 1.91" |
| Apr | 51°F | 35°F | 3.78" |
| May | 61°F | 45°F | 3.90" |
| Jun | 72°F | 55°F | 4.17" |
| Jul | 79°F | 62°F | 3.61" |
| Aug | 78°F | 62°F | 3.68" |
| Sep | 71°F | 54°F | 3.08" |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 2.56" |
| Nov | 46°F | 31°F | 2.13" |
| Dec | 36°F | 21°F | 1.82" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Port Washington
Uninsured
0.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Port Washington's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Aurora Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Grafton
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.
Education13.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Port Washington
Port Washington's student/teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.1% 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
40.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Port Washington (within 15 miles)
Concordia University-Wisconsin
9.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,197 students · in-state tuition $36,530 · 58% graduate · median earnings $61,992 (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: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 94 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Port Washington
Port Washington has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (94 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Port Washington
W.J. Niederkorn Library
316 W. Grand Ave., Port Washington
Cities Near Port Washington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Port Washington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Port Washington FAQ
Is Port Washington, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Port Washington's median rent is $1,008/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $81,948/year. Median home value is $296,300.
Is Port Washington, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Port Washington's violent crime rate was 62 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 226 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Port Washington, Wisconsin?⌄
Ozaukee County, which includes Port Washington, has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Port Washington, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Port Washington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,008/month and median household income is $81,948/year. The median home value is $296,300. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Port Washington, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Port Washington is 21 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