Median Income
$82,650
household / year
Median Home Value
$443,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,676
gross / month
Cost of Living
108
national avg = 100

Is Port Orchard, WA a Good Place to Live?

Port Orchard is a small city of 15,820 in Washington, with a median household income of $82,650 and a 4.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 108 (US average = 100), which is 8% above the national average.

Strengths: Port Orchard stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Port Orchard is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Port Orchard city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.5

Port Orchard's overall cost of living index is 108.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Port Orchard costs roughly 8% more than the average American city.

Metric Port Orchard, WA National Avg
Median Home Value $443,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,676 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 61.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $82,650 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Port Orchard's violent crime rate is 388.2 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
388.2 /100k
Property Crime
2898.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Port Orchard is served primarily by South Kitsap School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Port Orchard, WA National Avg
School District South Kitsap School District —
Elementary Schools 10 —
Middle Schools 3 —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 16.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 31.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Port Orchard sees average highs of 46.6°F in January and 76.5°F in July, with 56.9 inches of annual precipitation and 3.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricPort Orchard, WA
Average High — January46.6°F
Average High — July76.5°F
Annual Precipitation56.9"
Annual Snowfall3.0"

Demographics

MetricPort Orchard, WANational Avg
Population15,820—
Median Age33.738.9
Unemployment Rate4.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time31.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)72.3%59.3%
Black or African American1.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino6.4%18.9%
Asian5.4%6.3%
Under 1825.3%22.2%
65 and over14.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Port Orchard

Port Orchard, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

Port Orchard vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Port Orchard's cost of living index is 108, where 100 is the national average. That puts Port Orchard roughly 8% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $443,500 and median rent is $1,676/month.
Port Orchard's violent crime rate is 388.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2898.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Port Orchard are operated by South Kitsap School District. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Port Orchard, WA has a population of 15,820, a median household income of $82,650, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Port Orchard averages 46.6°F in January and 76.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.9 inches with about 3.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Port Orchard, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 98367, 98366.
The population of Port Orchard, Washington is 15,820 with a median age of 33.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Port Orchard: cost of living index 108 (100 = US average), median home $443,500, median household income $82,650, crime index 116 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Port Orchard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.