The Town FilesPort Townsend, Washington
City in Jefferson County · population 10,148 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $543,400
- Household income
- $62,606
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 60.8
Port Townsend is a city of 10,148 people in Jefferson County, Washington. The median home is worth $543,400, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks hipper than 100% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 99% of Washington towns, better for cycling than 99% of Washington towns.
How Port Townsend 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 Port Townsend is worth $543,400, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 8.7 times the median household income of $62,606, which is more affordable than 3% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,578 a month. 67.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Townsend | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $543,400 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,578 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $62,606 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.7× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 67.9% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Port Townsend
| People | Port Townsend | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.8 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.2% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 14.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Port Townsend
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 38.4°F. About 19.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 14 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Port Townsend since 1950.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 9,107 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,601 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Port Townsend itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Public schools in Port Townsend
4 public schools with 1,170 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salish Coast Elementary | PK-5 | 459 | 13.1 |
| Port Townsend High School | 9-12 | 361 | 20.1 |
| Blue Heron Middle School | 6-8 | 222 | 13.1 |
| OCEAN | K-12 | 128 | 18.3 |
Towns near Port Townsend
- Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA6.2 mi · 3,983 people · home $351,600
- Oak Harbor, WA14.0 mi · 24,622 people · home $461,200
- Sequim, WA14.2 mi · 8,024 people · home $408,700
- Port Ludlow, WA14.9 mi · 2,959 people · home $635,600
- Camano, WA15.2 mi · 17,356 people · home $670,800
- Hansville, WA17.7 mi · 3,410 people · home $597,000
- Warm Beach, WA20.5 mi · 2,990 people · home $671,100
- Stanwood, WA22.2 mi · 7,705 people · home $593,100
Port Townsend questions
Is Port Townsend, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Townsend scores better for retirees than 99% of Washington towns and quieter than 69%. 43.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.8).
How much does a house cost in Port Townsend?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Townsend is valued at $543,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,606, so homes cost about 8.7 times income. Median rent is $1,578 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Townsend?
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 38.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Port Townsend get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Port Townsend 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)