The Town FilesBig Lake, Washington
Community in Skagit County · population 2,980 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $666,400
- Household income
- $109,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.9
Big Lake is a community of 2,980 people in Skagit County, Washington. The median home is worth $666,400, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Washington towns, quieter than 90% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of Washington towns.
How Big Lake ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Big Lake is worth $666,400, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $109,286, which is more affordable than 28% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,980 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Lake | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $666,400 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,980 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $109,286 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Big Lake
| People | Big Lake | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 14.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Big Lake
July highs average 74.5°F and January lows 34.7°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.7 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Big Lake since 1950.
Severe weather in Skagit County since 1996
Skagit County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Skagit County
Skagit County had 53,884 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,374 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Big Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Big Lake
- Mount Vernon, WA3.5 mi · 35,219 people · home $472,300
- Burlington, WA6.3 mi · 9,152 people · home $466,400
- Sedro-Woolley, WA8.0 mi · 12,421 people · home $441,700
- Stanwood, WA11.4 mi · 7,705 people · home $593,100
- Arlington, WA16.2 mi · 19,868 people · home $538,800
- Warm Beach, WA16.7 mi · 2,990 people · home $671,100
- Lake Goodwin, WA18.1 mi · 4,462 people · home $718,400
- Anacortes, WA18.6 mi · 17,637 people · home $696,700
Big Lake questions
Is Big Lake, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Lake scores better for retirees than 94% of Washington towns and quieter than 90%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Big Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Lake is valued at $666,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,286, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $1,980 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Lake?
July highs average 74.5°F and January lows 34.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5.7 inches of snow.
Does Big Lake get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Big Lake in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)