Port Townsend, WA vs Tumwater, WA

Port Townsend is moderately more affordable than Tumwater, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Port Townsend scores 114 compared to 123 for Tumwater, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Tumwater can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Port Townsend is $1,151/month compared to $1,654/month in Tumwater — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Port Townsend has cheaper rent, Tumwater actually has lower median home values ($438,000 vs $502,500).

Median household income in Port Townsend is $60,015 compared to $93,635 in Tumwater (-35.9%). While Tumwater is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Port Townsend spend roughly 23% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in Tumwater.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 50.5°F). Tumwater receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 19.9" in Port Townsend.