The Town FilesQuilcene, Washington
Community in Jefferson County · population 598 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,300
- Household income
- $34,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 70°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 62.4
Quilcene is a community of 598 people in Jefferson County, Washington. The median home is worth $274,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Washington towns, quieter than 95% of Washington towns, better for cycling than 95% of Washington towns.
How Quilcene 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 Quilcene is worth $274,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 8.0 times the median household income of $34,464, which is more affordable than 5% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,078 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Quilcene | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,078 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $34,464 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.0× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Quilcene
| People | Quilcene | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 6.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 16.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 29.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 50.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Quilcene
July highs average 70.0°F and January lows 32.3°F. About 16.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Quilcene 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 Quilcene itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Quilcene
2 public schools with 516 students, about 20.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partnership for Excellence in Alternative Remote Learning | K-8 | 312 | 31.2 |
| Quilcene High And Elementary | PK-12 | 204 | 13.6 |
Towns near Quilcene
- Port Ludlow, WA11.3 mi · 2,959 people · home $635,600
- Brinnon, WA11.8 mi · 907 people · home $275,000
- Lofall, WA12.2 mi · 2,211 people · home $528,300
- Bangor Base, WA12.2 mi · 5,482 people · home —
- Seabeck, WA14.2 mi · 1,143 people · home $657,400
- Poulsbo, WA14.3 mi · 11,975 people · home $620,100
- Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA14.5 mi · 3,983 people · home $351,600
- Silverdale, WA16.0 mi · 20,733 people · home $555,300
Quilcene questions
Is Quilcene, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Quilcene scores better for retirees than 93% of Washington towns and quieter than 95%. 44.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.4).
How much does a house cost in Quilcene?
The median owner-occupied home in Quilcene is valued at $274,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,464, so homes cost about 8.0 times income. Median rent is $1,078 a month.
What is the weather like in Quilcene?
July highs average 70.0°F and January lows 32.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Quilcene get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Quilcene 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)