Port Townsend, WA

Yes — Port Townsend is about 18% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 118. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $502,500, and monthly rents average roughly $1,151. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,151, while local median household income is $60,015. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

Washington is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.98%. On a home worth $502,500, that translates to roughly $4,925 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 9.23% on everyday purchases.

The typical monthly rent in Port Townsend is around $1,151. That's roughly 15% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $502,500, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Port Townsend is valued at $502,500. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,541/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 71% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Port Townsend are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

Port Townsend is a small town with a population of about 10,290. The median age of residents is 59.4, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 14.23%, near the national average of 12.4%.