Port Townsend is a metro area of 33,577 people. The median age is 59.8, about 21 years above the US median. That puts it in the top 6% of US metro areas for household income. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock. There are 19 people per square mile. The population is up 29% since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $74,048, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 59.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 87%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Port Townsend
What changed most since 1990
Median age41.1 → 59.8(+18.7 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Median home value (2024 dollars)$213,606 → $535,000(+150%)US over the same years: +67%
White share94.3% → 84.6%(−9.8 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Among the 21 metro and micro areas based in Washington
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.5%(677)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.3%(633)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era51.4%(1,781)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.4%(221)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,465 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Port Townsend, decade by decade
Port Townsend population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
20,146
$60,475
$213,606
21.8%
13.6
2000
25,953
$68,984
$286,729
28.4%
21.0
2010
29,872
$66,243
$443,799
34.8%
24.8
2020
32,977
$69,926
$439,122
42.5%
32.7
2024
33,577
$74,048
$535,000
43.9%
34.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
