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: 108.5Port 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 AveragePort Orchard's violent crime rate is 388.2 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
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.
| Metric | Port Orchard, WA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 46.6°F |
| Average High — July | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | Port Orchard, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,820 | — |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 31.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 72.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.4% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Port Orchard
Port Orchard, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: