1st Advantage MortgageIsland County households have a median income of $90,551 and median rent of $1,662 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Island County by the numbers
- Island County housing compared with Washington
- Paychecks and income spread in Island County
- Employment and commuting in Island County
- Counties near Island County
- Island County towns compared
- Budget math at the Island County median
- Who lives in Island County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Island County
- A Island County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Island County
- More guides for Island County
- Frequently asked questions
Island County by the numbers
With an estimated 86,836 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Island County ranks 15th of 39 in Washington for population. It covers 208 square miles of land, or about 417 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Island County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (3 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Oak Harbor, with about 24,362 residents, or 28% of the county.
Island County housing compared with Washington
A typical Island County rental runs $1,662 a month including utilities, which is 6% below Washington. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $593,300, a typical Island County house costs 6.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Housing | Island County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,662/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $593,300 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.4% | 5.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 7% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Island County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Paychecks and income spread in Island County
Island County households have a median income of $90,551 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 8th of 39 in Washington.
| Band | Island County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.7% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.8% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.2% | +3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.3% | -7.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 45% of Island County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. 7.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). For a borrower in Island County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Island County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 69% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.8% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Island County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Island County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Island County
San Juan County is closest, 31 miles from center to center; the sixth, Clallam County, is 56 miles off. Snohomish County leads the group on income ($111,246), Clallam County trails ($70,370), and Island County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island County | - | $90,551 | $1,662/mo | 75% |
| San Juan County, WA | 31 mi | $84,800 | $1,512/mo | 78% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 36 mi | $104,158 | $1,822/mo | 70% |
| Snohomish County, WA | 42 mi | $111,246 | $1,949/mo | 68% |
| Skagit County, WA | 46 mi | $89,263 | $1,536/mo | 70% |
| Jefferson County, WA | 47 mi | $74,048 | $1,522/mo | 79% |
| Clallam County, WA | 56 mi | $70,370 | $1,152/mo | 74% |
Island County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Island County residents live in one of the 7. Camano has the highest median household income on the list ($105,231) and Whidbey Island Station the lowest ($45,625), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Coupeville ($1,063) and steepest in Camano ($1,896). Live in one of these Island County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Harbor | city | 24,362 | $76,084 | $1,645 | 10 mi |
| Camano | CDP | 17,303 | $105,231 | $1,896 | 10 mi |
| Whidbey Island Station | CDP | 2,027 | $45,625 | $1,875 | 13 mi |
| Coupeville | town | 1,980 | $81,625 | $1,063 | 4 mi |
| Freeland | CDP | 1,548 | $83,241 | $1,237 | 11 mi |
| Clinton | CDP | 1,419 | $76,458 | $1,410 | 20 mi |
| Langley | city | 1,044 | $77,072 | $1,365 | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Island County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Island County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,546 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,662, which is 22% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,055 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Island County's.
Who lives in Island County, in numbers
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| Island County | Washington | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.6% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.2% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Island County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 12.3% |
Before borrowing in Island County
A few patterns in the Island County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Island County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 45% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Island County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Island County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Island County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Island County
Island County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Washington: Washington personal loans.
More guides for Island County
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Island County earn?
The median is $90,551; 45% earn $100,000 or more and 16% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Island County?
$1,662 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
I live in a small Island County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Oak Harbor, Camano, Whidbey Island Station, Coupeville, Freeland and 2 more.
Are Island County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Island County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Washington it is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.