Port Townsend, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Port Townsend, Washington Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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Expensive MarketHome value to income ratio of 8.7x indicates a costly housing market

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Port Townsend, Washington had a total population of 10,438, the 128th largest city in Washington, with a median household income of $62,606, which is 36% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 36% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
53.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Washington.
Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 8.7x the median household income.
Unemployment rate of 10.4% is notably above the national average.

Port Townsend Quick Facts

Population 10,438

Median Household Income $62,606

Median Home Value $543,400

Poverty Rate 13.5%

Unemployment Rate 10.4%

Median Age 60.8 years

Homeownership Rate 67.9%

Affordability Ratio 8.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 53.2%

High School Graduation Rate 96.6%

Diversity Index 20/100

Population 10,438 128th of 628

Median Income $62,606 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 13.5% 8% higher than national

Median Home Value $543,400 above average

How Port Townsend Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	10,290	10,438	+1.4%
Median household income	$60,015	$62,606	+4.3%
Median home value	$502,500	$543,400	+8.1%

How Port Townsend Compares

Median Household Income

Port Townsend

$62,606

$98,141

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Port Townsend

$543,400

$564,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.6%

$25K-$50K 17.6%

$50K-$100K 31.3%

$100K+ 29.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.4%

$10K-$15K

6.3%

$15K-$20K

5.1%

$20K-$25K

3.8%

$25K-$30K

4.4%

$30K-$35K

3.9%

$35K-$40K

5.0%

$40K-$45K

1.5%

$45K-$50K

3.0%

$50K-$60K

8.6%

$60K-$75K

11.6%

$75K-$100K

11.2%

$100K-$125K

9.1%

$125K-$150K

5.4%

$150K-$200K

8.3%

$200K+

6.7%

Employment

10.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%

43.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.9%

Renter 32.1%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

8.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,578/mo 30.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

11.7%

18-34

10.8%

35-54

20.2%

55-74

40.5%

75+

16.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Port Townsend Rankings in Washington

#128 Population of 628

#458 Median Income of 570

#63 Education of 628

#207 Home Value of 584

Explore Washington Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Jefferson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Port Hadlock-Irondale	3,884	$83,548	14.8%	$351,600
Port Ludlow	2,891	$96,103	5.9%	$635,600
Marrowstone	1,164	$110,368	6.1%	$756,000
Brinnon	758	$62,857	16.9%	$275,000
Quilcene	362	$34,464	26.5%	$274,300

Cities Similar to Port Townsend

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
College Place	9,854	$61,914	$366,600	35.4%	11.3%
Shelton	10,612	$69,598	$345,700	18.1%	17.4%
Airway Heights	11,245	$62,874	$348,500	17.0%	19.5%
Grandview	11,187	$61,106	$265,300	7.3%	17.9%
Burlington	10,003	$80,475	$466,400	20.5%	14.5%

Population Overview

Port Townsend is a small city located in Washington, within Jefferson County. The total population is 10,438. It ranks as the 128th most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Port Townsend is 60.8 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 38.3 years. Only 11.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Port Townsend is $62,606. This is 36% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.5%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 10.4%. This is 105% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $543,400. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Port Townsend has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.1%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 14.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 9.7%.

Education

53.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Port Townsend in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 34% higher than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.6%. Notably, 22.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Port Townsend, Washington is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Washington state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 628 Census-designated places in Washington. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Port Townsend, Washington?

Port Townsend, Washington has a population of 10,438 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Port Townsend, WA?

The median household income in Port Townsend is $62,606, which is 22% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Port Townsend, WA?

The poverty rate in Port Townsend is 13.5%. This means approximately 1,389 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Port Townsend, Washington?

Port Townsend's population is 89.0% White, 0.5% Black, 3.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Port Townsend, WA?

The median home value in Port Townsend is $543,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 8.7x.

How educated is Port Townsend, Washington?

53.2% of adults (25+) in Port Townsend hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 22.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.