1st Advantage MortgageJefferson County households have a median income of $74,048 and median rent of $1,522 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Jefferson County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Jefferson County
- What Jefferson County households earn
- How Jefferson County residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Jefferson County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Jefferson County
- Jefferson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Jefferson County borrowers
- What a median Jefferson County budget can carry
- Lender oversight for Jefferson County
- Steps before you apply in Jefferson County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jefferson County by the numbers
With an estimated 33,577 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jefferson County ranks 27th of 39 in Washington for population. Spread over 1,804 square miles, that works out to roughly 18.6 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jefferson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Port Townsend is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 10,438 people (31% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Jefferson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,522 in Jefferson County versus $1,760 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $535,000, a typical Jefferson County house costs 7.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 79%. The median year built is 1988.
| Cost | Jefferson County | Washington figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,522/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $535,000 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% | 5.5% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jefferson 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.
What Jefferson County households earn
At $74,048, the typical Jefferson County household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Jefferson County | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | -7.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Jefferson County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.1% of Jefferson County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Washington. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.487 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Jefferson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Jefferson County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Jefferson County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Washington, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.6% in Jefferson County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Jefferson County | Difference from Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +4.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.4% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Public administration | 6.7% | +1.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Jefferson County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 52 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Jefferson County; Kitsap County is highest at $104,158 and Grays Harbor County lowest at $64,414.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $74,048 | $1,522/mo | 79% |
| Clallam County, WA | 27 mi | $70,370 | $1,152/mo | 74% |
| Mason County, WA | 35 mi | $83,270 | $1,285/mo | 82% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 42 mi | $104,158 | $1,822/mo | 70% |
| Island County, WA | 47 mi | $90,551 | $1,662/mo | 75% |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | 50 mi | $64,414 | $1,062/mo | 73% |
| San Juan County, WA | 52 mi | $84,800 | $1,512/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Jefferson County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Jefferson County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $110,368 at the median in Marrowstone, $62,606 in Port Townsend. Median rent ranges from $1,260 in Brinnon to $2,213 in Port Ludlow. Live in one of these Jefferson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Townsend | city | 10,438 | $62,606 | $1,578 | 41 mi |
| Port Hadlock-Irondale | CDP | 3,884 | $83,548 | $1,361 | 38 mi |
| Port Ludlow | CDP | 2,891 | $96,103 | $2,213 | 39 mi |
| Marrowstone | CDP | 1,164 | $110,368 | $1,458 | 42 mi |
| Brinnon | CDP | 758 | $62,857 | $1,260 | 30 mi |
| Quilcene | CDP | 362 | $34,464 | $1,078 | 29 mi |
Jefferson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 44% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Jefferson County | All of Washington | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.8 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.9% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 23.7% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.6% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
What the numbers mean for Jefferson County borrowers
Where the Jefferson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Older households. A 59.8 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Jefferson County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
What a median Jefferson County budget can carry
Jefferson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $74,048 a year is $6,171 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,522, or 25 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $946 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Jefferson County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Jefferson County resident can confirm its license with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Steps before you apply in Jefferson County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Jefferson County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Washington borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jefferson County a high-income county?
Its $74,048 median ranks 21st of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Jefferson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,522 against $1,760 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Jefferson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Jefferson County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Port Townsend?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Jefferson County, such as Port Hadlock-Irondale, Port Ludlow, Marrowstone.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jefferson County or elsewhere in Washington, the same rules apply.