Moses Lake, WA vs Port Townsend, WA

Moses Lake is moderately more affordable than Port Townsend, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Moses Lake scores 97 compared to 114 for Port Townsend, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Port Townsend can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Moses Lake is $1,203/month compared to $1,151/month in Port Townsend — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Port Townsend has cheaper rent, Moses Lake actually has lower median home values ($278,100 vs $502,500).

Median household income in Moses Lake is $71,854 compared to $60,015 in Port Townsend (+19.7%). Moses Lake offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Moses Lake spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, less than the 23% in Port Townsend.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 52.1°F). Port Townsend receives more rainfall at 19.9" per year compared to 7.8" in Moses Lake.