The Town FilesLongbranch, Washington
Community in Pierce County · population 4,141 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $396,000
- Household income
- $95,768
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 50.3
Longbranch is a community of 4,141 people in Pierce County, Washington. The median home is worth $396,000, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Washington towns, quieter than 97% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 89% of Washington towns.
- #1 in The 11 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Washington
- #2 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Washington
- #3 in The 14 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Washington
- #11 in The 14 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Washington
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Washington
- #24 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Washington
How Longbranch 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 Longbranch is worth $396,000, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $95,768, which is more affordable than 84% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,750 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Longbranch | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $396,000 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,750 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $95,768 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.1% | — |
Who lives in Longbranch
| People | Longbranch | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 16.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 23.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 45.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Longbranch
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 36.4°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 21 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Longbranch since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 18, 2019 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 18, 2019.
Severe weather in Pierce County since 1996
Pierce County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| 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 |
| September 9, 2020 | Fire | FM-5360: Sumner Grade Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Pierce County
Pierce County had 333,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,395 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Longbranch itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Longbranch
1 public school with 330 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Elementary | PK-5 | 330 | 16.5 |
Towns near Longbranch
- Fox Island, WA6.1 mi · 3,921 people · home $1,003,900
- Key Center, WA7.4 mi · 3,863 people · home $613,200
- Artondale, WA7.7 mi · 13,641 people · home $734,400
- Steilacoom, WA9.0 mi · 6,727 people · home $655,000
- DuPont, WA9.8 mi · 10,151 people · home $583,600
- Wollochet, WA9.8 mi · 6,769 people · home $889,900
- Rosedale, WA10.3 mi · 4,357 people · home $887,600
- University Place, WA10.3 mi · 34,866 people · home $624,800
Longbranch questions
Is Longbranch, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Longbranch scores better for retirees than 89% of Washington towns and quieter than 97%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Longbranch?
The median owner-occupied home in Longbranch is valued at $396,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,768, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,750 a month.
What is the weather like in Longbranch?
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 36.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Longbranch get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Longbranch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 18, 2019. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)