Puget Island, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Puget Island is a small community located in Washington, within Wahkiakum County. The total population is 1,008. It ranks as the 395th most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Puget Island is 56.2 years. This is 47% higher than the state median of 38.3 years. Only 14.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 14.7% 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 Puget Island is $49,438. This is 50% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.0%. This is 153% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $484,800. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Puget Island has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 14.4%.

Education

25.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower 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 97.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Puget Island, 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.