The Town FilesPuget Island, Washington
Community in Wahkiakum County · population 922 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $484,800
- Household income
- $49,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 56.2
Puget Island is a community of 922 people in Wahkiakum County, Washington. The median home is worth $484,800, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks quieter than 99% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 84% of Washington towns, hipper than 83% of Washington towns.
How Puget Island 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 Puget Island is worth $484,800, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 9.8 times the median household income of $49,438, which is more affordable than 1% of Washington towns. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Puget Island | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,800 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | — | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $49,438 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.8× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.8% | — |
Who lives in Puget Island
| People | Puget Island | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 25.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 37.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Puget Island
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 54.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Puget Island since 1950.
Severe weather in Wahkiakum County since 1996
Wahkiakum County has been included in 33 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 Wahkiakum County
Wahkiakum County had 726 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,092 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in Puget Island itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Puget Island
- East Cathlamet, WA1.9 mi · 578 people · home $400,000
- Cathlamet, WA2.1 mi · 560 people · home $387,500
- Knappa, OR9.5 mi · 1,007 people · home $442,100
- Clatskanie, OR9.8 mi · 1,716 people · home $363,900
- Svensen, OR13.2 mi · 853 people · home $383,100
- Longview, WA20.1 mi · 37,818 people · home $361,600
- Longview Heights, WA20.5 mi · 4,033 people · home $456,700
- Astoria, OR20.7 mi · 10,181 people · home $444,800
Puget Island questions
Is Puget Island, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Puget Island scores better for retirees than 84% of Washington towns and quieter than 99%. 37.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.2).
How much does a house cost in Puget Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Puget Island is valued at $484,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,438, so homes cost about 9.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Puget Island?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Puget Island get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Puget Island 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)