Oak Harbor, WA vs Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend is moderately more affordable than Oak Harbor, with a 6.9% lower cost of living index. Oak Harbor scores 121 compared to 114 for Port Townsend, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oak Harbor can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Harbor is $1,629/month compared to $1,151/month in Port Townsend — a 42% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Port Townsend has cheaper rent, Oak Harbor actually has lower median home values ($421,700 vs $502,500).

Median household income in Oak Harbor is $72,041 compared to $60,015 in Port Townsend (+20%). While Oak Harbor is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Harbor spend roughly 27.1% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Port Townsend.

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