Marietta-Alderwood, WA vs Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend is moderately more affordable than Marietta-Alderwood, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. Marietta-Alderwood scores 121 compared to 114 for Port Townsend, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marietta-Alderwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Marietta-Alderwood is $1,450/month compared to $1,151/month in Port Townsend — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Port Townsend has cheaper rent, Marietta-Alderwood actually has lower median home values ($493,200 vs $502,500).

Median household income in Marietta-Alderwood is $62,243 compared to $60,015 in Port Townsend (+3.7%). The higher salaries in Marietta-Alderwood partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Marietta-Alderwood spend roughly 28% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Port Townsend.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 52.1°F). Marietta-Alderwood receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 19.9" in Port Townsend.