City · 10,438 residents · Jefferson County, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington
In Port Townsend, a typical home is worth $543,400 and typical rent is $1,578 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, typical household income is 15% lower and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $576,169 to $626,891.
Typical rent
$2,450a month
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2026 to September 2026: from $2,447 to $2,450.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Port Townsend is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Sequim, the typical home value is $408,700: 25% less than in Port Townsend ($543,400).
2
Nearby, in Sequim, the typical rent is $1,195: 24% less than in Port Townsend ($1,578).
3
68% of households in Port Townsend own their home, against 79% in Jefferson County.
4
The typical household income in Port Townsend is $62,606,15% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($74,048).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Port Townsend
What homes there are in Port Townsend, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
United States
Kind of home: Port Townsend and its comparisons
Measure
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
United States
Detached house
75%
80%
62%
61%
Attached house
3%
2%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
3%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
5%
22%
19%
Mobile home
5%
9%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
1%
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Port Townsend, but it weighs less than in Jefferson County: 75% against 80%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
United States
Year built: Port Townsend and its comparisons
Measure
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
United States
Before 1960
30%
17%
21%
26%
1960–1979
19%
21%
23%
24%
1980–1999
24%
34%
27%
25%
2000–2009
16%
16%
15%
14%
2010 or later
11%
12%
14%
11%
In Port Townsend, half of the homes were built before 1981; in Jefferson County, before 1988.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300K8%
$300K–$500K30%
$500K–$750K29%
$750K–$1M16%
$1M or more11%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Port Townsend and its comparisons
Measure
Port Townsend
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
8%
$300K–$500K
30%
$500K–$750K
29%
$750K–$1M
16%
$1M or more
11%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99912%
$1,000–$1,49917%
$1,500–$1,99934%
$2,000–$2,49912%
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Port Townsend and its comparisons
Measure
Port Townsend
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
12%
$1,000–$1,499
17%
$1,500–$1,999
34%
$2,000–$2,499
12%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,061 a month
Jefferson County: $2,015 a month
Without a mortgage
$701 a month
Jefferson County: $675 a month
Owners with a mortgage
46%
Jefferson County: 47%
Owning costs about the same in Port Townsend as in Jefferson County: with a mortgage, $2,061 a month; without one, $701.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Port Townsend+61%
Jefferson County+58%
Washington+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Port Townsend+65%
Jefferson County+63%
Washington+40%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Port Townsend+22%
Jefferson County+34%
Washington+33%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Port Townsend and its comparisons
Measure
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
United States
Typical home value
+61%
+58%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+65%
+63%
+40%
+33%
Typical household income
+22%
+34%
+33%
+29%
Much as in Jefferson County, the typical home value in Port Townsend rose 61% since 2015–2019.
The typical rent in Port Townsend rose 65% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Jefferson County (63%).
Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 22%, while home values changed +61% and rent +65%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Port Townsend and its comparisons
Measure
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.0%
3.5%
3.4%
People per household
1.79
2.02
2.50
2.53
Drive alone
54%
61%
63%
69%
Carpool
6%
8%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
Walk or bike
13%
5%
4%
3%
Work from home
26%
24%
20%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Port Townsend are smaller: 1.79 people on average; in Jefferson County, 2.02.
In Port Townsend, 13% of workers walk or bike to work; in Jefferson County, 5%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Port Townsend?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Port Townsend, worth $543,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 85% of the typical household income in Port Townsend, which is $62,606 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $189,079 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Port Townsend. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $19,019 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$4,412
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$533,558
Total interest
$767,664
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $9,177 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,461 a month
Tight
$1,461 to $1,878 a month
Hard
more than $1,878 a month
Your payment · 85%
Compared with the typical household income in Port Townsend ($62,606 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,615
Property tax
$331
Home insurance
$226
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$240
You need at least $19,019 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $4,412; principal and interest $3,615.
The city and its county
Port Townsend and Jefferson County
Port Townsend is in Jefferson County, Washington. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Port Townsend
Map of Jefferson County, Washington, with Port Townsend marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Other cities with a page
Port Townsend's own numbers
Typical home value
$543,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,578
Typical yearly household income
$62,606
Households that own their home
68%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Jefferson County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,588
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.3%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.
A typical home in Port Townsend is worth $543,400: about the same as the county and 4% below Washington. With the typical household income in Port Townsend ($62,606 a year), a typical home costs 8.7 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Port Townsend8.7 years
Jefferson7.2 years
Washington5.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Jefferson County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 122% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Jefferson County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +11.6% +11.6% 2016
2017: +8.5% +8.5% 2017
2018: +8.8% +8.8% 2018
2019: +6.9% +6.9% 2019
2020: +5.2% +5.2% 2020
2021: +15.0% +15.0% 2021
2022: +19.3% +19.3% 2022
2023: +2.6% +2.6% 2023
2024: +5.1% +5.1% 2024
2025: +1.5% +1.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Jefferson County, Washington and the United States
Period
County
Washington
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.5%
+1.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+50%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+122%
+113%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Port Townsend next to Jefferson County, Washington and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Port Townsend$543,400
Jefferson$535,000
Washington$564,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Port Townsend$1,578
Jefferson$1,522
Washington$1,760
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Port Townsend$62,606
Jefferson$74,048
Washington$98,141
United States$80,734
See the full table
Port Townsend next to Jefferson County and Washington
Measure
Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Washington
U.S.
Typical home value
$543,400
$535,000
$564,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,578 ▲4% above the county
$1,522
$1,760
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$62,606 ▼15% below the county
$74,048
$98,141
$80,734
Households that own their home
68% ▼11 points below the county
79%
64%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,969 ▲4% above the county
$3,818
$4,556
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.73% ▲0.02 points above the county
0.71%
0.81%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
56% ▲8 points above the county
48%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Port Townsend
For a typical $543,400 home in Port Townsend, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Port Townsend's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$4,412a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$19,019
Cash to close
$35,321
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $240
Conventional, 5% down$4,312a month
Down payment
$27,170
Cash to close
$43,472
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $258
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$3,502a month
Down payment
$108,680
Cash to close
$124,982
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$4,004a month
Down payment
$81,510
Cash to close
$97,812
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Port Townsend
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$4,412
$19,019
$533,558
7.18%
FHA MIP · $240
$35,321
580
Conventional, 5% down
$4,312
$27,170
$516,230
7.18%
PMI · $258
$43,472
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$3,502
$108,680
$434,720
7.18%
None
$124,982
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$4,004
$81,510
$461,890
8.18%
None
$97,812
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Port Townsend is $1,578 a month: 4% above the county. In Port Townsend, 56% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,588 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $30.54 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Jefferson County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,232
$23.69
$49,280
1 bedroom
$1,341
$25.79
$53,640
2 bedrooms
$1,588
$30.54
$63,520
3 bedrooms
$2,199
$42.29
$87,960
4 bedrooms
$2,654
$51.04
$106,160
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Port Townsend
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Port Townsend is in ZIP code 98368.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,640: $52 more than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,588).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Port Townsend, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
98368
$1,270
$1,390
$1,640
$2,270
$2,740
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
98368 $1,640$2,270
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Port Townsend when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Port Townsend. These are the largest.
Laurel Heights1640 20th St, Port Townsend 9836851 homes, 50 low-income · 2 bd: 34 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2004 · For people with disabilities, families
San Juan Commons3300 San Juan Ave, Port Townsend 9836851 homes, 50 low-income · 1 bd: 41 · 2 bd: 10 · In service since 1999 · For older adults, people with disabilities
Discovery View1051 Hancock St, Port Townsend 9836848 homes, 47 low-income · Studio: 1 · 1 bd: 43 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 1993 · For older adults
Claridge Court Apartments1235 Landes St, Port Townsend 9836844 homes, 43 low-income · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 2009
Marine Plaza Apartments619 Clay St, Port Townsend 9836840 low-income homes · For older adults(360) 385-3055
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Port Townsend or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Washington: they work in Port Townsend the same as in the rest of the state.
Washington state commission 0% second mortgage for 3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage, with no monthly payments; you do not need to be a first-time buyer.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
Washington state commission loan with no monthly payments of up to 20% of the price (maximum $150,000) plus closing costs, for first-time buyers whose family lived in Washington before 1968 and belonged to a group affected by housing discrimination, including Hispanic people.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
Washington state commission loan of up to $15,000 at 1% simple interest, with no monthly payments, for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers with the House Key Opportunity mortgage.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Port Townsend, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
PS
Parkview Services
4720 200th St SW Ste 200, Lynnwood · 31 miles away · Spanish
Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and other languages.
No legal help resource on our list is for Port Townsend or Jefferson County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Port Townsend and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Port Townsend?
The typical home value in Port Townsend is $543,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $535,000.
How much does it cost to rent in Port Townsend?
Typical rent in Port Townsend is $1,578 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,588.
What is the FHA loan limit in Port Townsend?
Port Townsend uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Port Townsend?
The typical homeowner in Port Townsend pays $3,969 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.71%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Port Townsend?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
