The Town FilesPoulsbo, Washington
City in Kitsap County · population 11,975 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $620,100
- Household income
- $116,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.3
Poulsbo is a city of 11,975 people in Kitsap County, Washington. The median home is worth $620,100, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 87% of Washington towns, more seaside character than 81% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 79% of Washington towns.
How Poulsbo 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 Poulsbo is worth $620,100, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $116,250, which is more affordable than 52% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,886 a month. 59.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poulsbo | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $620,100 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,886 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $116,250 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 59.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Poulsbo
| People | Poulsbo | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.2% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 13.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 24.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Poulsbo
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 56.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Poulsbo since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 9, 1991 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 1991.
Severe weather in Kitsap County since 1996
Kitsap County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
| December 8, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1734: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 17, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1641: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 7, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3227: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kitsap County
Kitsap County had 93,571 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,579 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Poulsbo itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Poulsbo
6 public schools with 3,124 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Kitsap High School | 9-12 | 1,097 | 24.9 |
| Poulsbo Middle School | 6-8 | 670 | 20.9 |
| Vinland Elementary | PK-5 | 515 | 17.2 |
| Poulsbo Elementary School | PK-5 | 465 | 17.9 |
| Hilder Pearson Elementary | PK-5 | 299 | 15.7 |
| Chief Kitsap Academy | K-12 | 78 | 7.1 |
Towns near Poulsbo
- Suquamish, WA2.7 mi · 4,266 people · home $456,100
- Bangor Base, WA3.6 mi · 5,482 people · home —
- Silverdale, WA5.4 mi · 20,733 people · home $555,300
- Indianola, WA6.2 mi · 3,664 people · home $503,800
- Kingston, WA7.3 mi · 2,515 people · home $585,300
- Chico, WA8.9 mi · 2,723 people · home $672,600
- Tracyton, WA9.1 mi · 5,967 people · home $470,200
- Bainbridge Island, WA9.2 mi · 24,825 people · home $1,155,900
Poulsbo questions
Is Poulsbo, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poulsbo scores better for retirees than 69% of Washington towns and quieter than 39%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Poulsbo?
The median owner-occupied home in Poulsbo is valued at $620,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,250, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,886 a month.
What is the weather like in Poulsbo?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Poulsbo get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Poulsbo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 9, 1991. 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)