Poulsbo, WA

Census place 5355995 · pop 12,165

D56/ 100
😐 Meh
B
in WA
📍 Washington ranks #24 of 50 states →
🏆 Air19 AQI · top 1%
🚽 Cost$620,100 · bottom 13%
Taxes
0.73% property · US 0.99%9.51% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).

The breakdown — worst first

Housing cost$620,10013

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$620,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$2,529/mo16

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,529/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time28 min24

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.3%26

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level95/10032

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

95/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership59.0%35

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

59.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate9.3%61

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

9.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Income inequality0.4168

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property-tax burden0.73%71

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.73% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity30.6%74

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

30.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poor mental health15.1%77

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Uninsured adults6.5%81

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

6.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Bachelor's degree or higher49.2%81

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

49.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Broadband access95.6%83

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

95.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking9.3%85

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

9.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$116,25085

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$116,250 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+14.7%88

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+14.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity16.5%92

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

16.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)County-level19 AQI99

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

19 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Poulsbo: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Poulsbo, WA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Poulsbo scores 56/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is housing cost. Washington overall ranks #24 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Poulsbo, WA expensive to live in?
Poulsbo has a median home value of $620,100 and typical rent around $2,529/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Poulsbo, WA?
Its weakest measured area is housing cost ($620,100) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Poulsbo, WA best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (19 AQI) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.