Is Vashon, WA a Good Place to Live?
Vashon is a small city of 10,939 in Washington, with a median household income of $103,222 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.
Strengths: Vashon stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Vashon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Vashon 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: 113.0Vashon's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Vashon costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Vashon, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $675,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,413 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $103,222 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageVashon's violent crime rate is 439.7 per 100,000 residents — 16% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Vashon is served primarily by Vashon Island School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Vashon, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Vashon Island School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 98.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Vashon sees average highs of 48.0°F in January and 77.4°F in July, with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation and 6.3 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Vashon, WA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 48.0°F |
| Average High — July | 77.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" |
Demographics
| Metric | Vashon, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,939 | — |
| Median Age | 52.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 34.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 87.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 27.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Vashon
Vashon, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: