Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Poulsbo
Bainbridge Island
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs70 · Top 23%
Growth
70 · Top 17%
vs50 · Bottom 49%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 33%
vs42 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 37%
vs68 · Bottom 31%
Access
87 · Bottom 34%
vs93 · Top 46%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 45%
vs60 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Poulsbo | Bainbridge Island | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,165 | 24,631 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $116,250 | $172,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $56,418 | $99,714 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,550/sq mi | 892/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $620,100 | $1,155,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,886 | $2,194 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.0% | 81.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.2% | 76.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 3.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 199 | 72 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 16.4 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 59.2% | 38.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.8" | 37.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 38.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.3 | 49.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Poulsbo
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Bainbridge Island
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Poulsbo
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
Bainbridge Island
65
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Poulsbo, WA · Bainbridge Island, WA · How this is calculated: methodology