What are the schools like in Port Townsend, WA?

Port Townsend is served primarily by Port Townsend School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.1:1.

What is the median household income in Port Townsend?

The median household income in Port Townsend, WA is $59,193 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 13.7%.

What is the weather like in Port Townsend, WA?

Port Townsend has an average high temperature of 46.4°F in January and 72.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 24.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.6 inches.

Port Townsend, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Port Townsend, WA affordable or expensive?

Port Townsend's cost of living index is 105, where 100 represents the national average. This means Port Townsend is 5% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $448,400 and the median rent is $1,111 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Port Townsend, WA?

Port Townsend has a violent crime rate of 471.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1413.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Port Townsend, WA a Good Place to Live?

Port Townsend is a small city of 10,161 in Washington, with a median household income of $59,193 and a 13.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 105 (US average = 100), which is 5% above the national average.

Strengths: Port Townsend stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Port Townsend is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Port Townsend 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: 105.3

Port Townsend's overall cost of living index is 105.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Port Townsend costs roughly 5% more than the average American city.

Metric	Port Townsend, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$448,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,111	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,193	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Port Townsend's violent crime rate is 471.1 per 100,000 residents — 24% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

471.1 /100k

Property Crime

1413.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Port Townsend is served primarily by Port Townsend School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Port Townsend, WA	National Avg
School District	Port Townsend School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	54.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Port Townsend sees average highs of 46.4°F in January and 72.6°F in July, with 24.4 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Port Townsend, WA
Average High — January	46.4°F
Average High — July	72.6°F
Annual Precipitation	24.4"
Annual Snowfall	0.6"

Demographics

Metric	Port Townsend, WA	National Avg
Population	10,161	—
Median Age	59.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	13.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	11.1%	22.2%
65 and over	40.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA 6 mi Marrowstone, WA 8 mi Coupeville, WA 8 mi Blyn, WA 12 mi Freeland, WA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Port Townsend

Port Townsend, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98368

Port Townsend vs Other Cities

Port Townsend, WA vs Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA Port Townsend, WA vs Marrowstone, WA Port Townsend, WA vs Coupeville, WA Port Townsend, WA vs Blyn, WA Port Townsend, WA vs Freeland, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Port Townsend, WA affordable or expensive?

Port Townsend's cost of living index is 105, where 100 is the national average. That puts Port Townsend roughly 5% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $448,400 and median rent is $1,111/month.

What is the crime rate in Port Townsend, WA?

Port Townsend's violent crime rate is 471.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1413.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Port Townsend?

Public schools in Port Townsend are operated by Port Townsend School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. 54.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Port Townsend, WA a good place to live?

Port Townsend, WA has a population of 10,161, a median household income of $59,193, and an unemployment rate of 13.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Port Townsend?

Port Townsend averages 46.4°F in January and 72.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.4 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Port Townsend?

Port Townsend, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98368.

What is the population of Port Townsend?

The population of Port Townsend, Washington is 10,161 with a median age of 59.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Port Townsend?

Key numbers for living in Port Townsend: cost of living index 105 (100 = US average), median home $448,400, median household income $59,193, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Port Townsend side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.