1st Advantage MortgageAbout 70% of Kitsap County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $104,158. 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
- Kitsap County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Kitsap County
- How much Kitsap County households make
- Employment and commuting in Kitsap County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Kitsap County
- Kitsap County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Kitsap County
- Room for a loan payment in Kitsap County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Kitsap County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kitsap County by the numbers
Kitsap County is home to about 277,881 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 7th most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. It covers 395 square miles of land, or about 703 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Bremerton is the biggest of its 28 Census places, at roughly 44,830 people (16% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Kitsap County
A typical Kitsap County rental runs $1,822 a month including utilities, which is 4% above Washington. By the Census definition, 53% of Kitsap County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $555,100, a typical Kitsap County house costs 5.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 70% of Kitsap County households own their home and 30% rent. The median year built is 1986.
| Housing | Kitsap County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,822/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $555,100 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 7% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How much Kitsap County households make
Half of Kitsap County households take in less than $104,158 a year and half take in more, 6% above the Washington median of $98,141. Only 2 Washington counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Kitsap County | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.5% | -2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.1% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.9% | +5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.5% | -2.0 pts |
About 13% of households earn under $35,000, while 52% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.433 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Kitsap County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Kitsap County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Public administration stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Kitsap County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kitsap County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Public administration | 10.9% | +5.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Kitsap County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Mason County is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Thurston County, is 49 miles off. Income ranges from $74,048 in Jefferson County to $124,746 in King County; 1 of these neighbors top Kitsap County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitsap County | - | $104,158 | $1,822/mo | 70% |
| Mason County, WA | 32 mi | $83,270 | $1,285/mo | 82% |
| Island County, WA | 36 mi | $90,551 | $1,662/mo | 75% |
| King County, WA | 39 mi | $124,746 | $2,092/mo | 55% |
| Jefferson County, WA | 42 mi | $74,048 | $1,522/mo | 79% |
| Pierce County, WA | 47 mi | $99,564 | $1,806/mo | 65% |
| Thurston County, WA | 49 mi | $96,563 | $1,736/mo | 68% |
Towns and communities in Kitsap County
The table lists the 14 largest of 28 Census places in Kitsap County, by population. Together all 28 hold about 188,951 people, so roughly 32% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $172,188 at the median in Bainbridge Island, $69,852 in Navy Yard City. This guide covers each of the 28 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | city | 44,830 | $74,940 | $1,641 | 8 mi |
| Bainbridge Island | city | 24,631 | $172,188 | $2,194 | 7 mi |
| Silverdale | CDP | 20,685 | $105,483 | $2,143 | 2 mi |
| Port Orchard | city | 17,149 | $89,795 | $1,797 | 7 mi |
| Poulsbo | city | 12,165 | $116,250 | $1,886 | 7 mi |
| Parkwood | CDP | 6,873 | $88,625 | $1,778 | 8 mi |
| Tracyton | CDP | 6,137 | $103,935 | $1,858 | 2 mi |
| Bangor Base | CDP | 6,112 | $79,918 | $2,353 | 6 mi |
| Manchester | CDP | 5,956 | $126,371 | $1,740 | 8 mi |
| East Port Orchard | CDP | 4,725 | $75,320 | $1,554 | 8 mi |
| Bethel | CDP | 4,394 | $79,583 | $1,170 | 11 mi |
| Suquamish | CDP | 4,084 | $86,224 | $1,460 | 7 mi |
| Indianola | CDP | 3,468 | $98,684 | $1,443 | 10 mi |
| Hansville | CDP | 3,384 | $92,426 | $2,379 | 19 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Kitsap County households compared
38% of Kitsap County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Kitsap County | Washington | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.9% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Kitsap County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 11.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Kitsap County
A few patterns in the Kitsap County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Kitsap County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidation math. With 52% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Room for a loan payment in Kitsap County
Kitsap County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $104,158 a year is $8,680 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,822, takes 21% of that
- $1,303: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,910 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,822, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Kitsap County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Kitsap County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Kitsap County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kitsap County borrowers answers to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Kitsap County?
$104,158 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $98,141 for Washington. It ranks 3rd of 39 in the state.
Is Kitsap County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,822 against $1,760 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Bremerton?
Yes, along with the other 27 Census places in Kitsap County, such as Bainbridge Island, Silverdale, Port Orchard.
Does living in Kitsap County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Kitsap County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Kitsap County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Washington it is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.