Oak Harbor, WA vs Stanwood, WA

Oak Harbor is moderately more affordable than Stanwood, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Oak Harbor scores 121 compared to 134 for Stanwood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Stanwood 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 $1,625/month in Stanwood — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Stanwood has cheaper rent, Oak Harbor actually has lower median home values ($421,700 vs $547,400).

Median household income in Oak Harbor is $72,041 compared to $87,477 in Stanwood (-17.6%). While Stanwood 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 22.3% in Stanwood.

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