City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Gig Harbor, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Gig Harbor - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,202
Residents
$106,042
Median income
$686,000
Median home
$2,031
Median rent (state)

Gig Harbor - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Gig Harbor places in the 81st percentile for household income and the 14th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

81st
percentile, household income
92nd
percentile, home value
84th
percentile, median rent
14th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Gig Harbor, WA

Gig Harbor is a small town in Washington, home to 12,202 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Gig Harbor households earn a median of $106,042 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.6%. Gig Harbor's housing stock carries a median value of $686,000, and the median resident age is 47.6 years. 50.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 23 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 74% from five years earlier. Gig Harbor's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3167.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Washington at 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,031 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Washington run around $188, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Gig Harbor workers runs 23.9 minutes, with 69.6% driving alone and 17.6% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 92.3 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

12,202 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$106,042 /yr

Poverty 5.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Gig Harbor compare to other US cities?

Here's how Gig Harbor stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 92% pricier than other cities
Median rent 84% pricier than other cities
Safety 14% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Washington and the picture shifts: Gig Harbor ranks #118 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Gig Harbor's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Washington, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

81stIncome percentile
14thSafety percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income · 14th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Gig Harbor's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Gig Harbor's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
Gig Harbor's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Gig Harbor's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$686,000 8th percentile more affordable than 8% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Gig Harbor $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gig Harbor, WA Gig Harbor, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gig Harbor, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Gig Harbor, WA median $106,042/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Gig Harbor, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Gig Harbor, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 50.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,202
Median Income
$106,042
Median Home Value
$686,000
Median Age
47.6
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Labor force participation
52.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
50.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3167.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
203.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2964.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,000 residents12,200 residents12,400 residents12,600 residents12,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,088 residents 12,630 residents ▲ +4.5%
Gig Harbor's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
23
housing units authorized
Single-Family
23
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 88
2020 120
2021 228
2022 125
2023 12
2024 23

Permit volume decreased 74% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.9 minutes
Drive Alone
69.6%
Carpool
6.9%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
3.6%
Work from Home
17.6%
Other
1.3%

Based on 5,200 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Gig Harbor sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,031/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

East Renton Highlands
12,241 people
Minnehaha
12,080 people
Prairie Ridge
12,054 people
Lake Tapps
12,360 people
Liberty Lake
12,435 people
Poulsbo
11,962 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gig Harbor's 12,202 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

McComb, MS
12,202 people
Monfort Heights, OH
12,203 people
Rosaryville, MD
12,206 people
Choctaw, OK
12,208 people
Milford, DE
12,193 people
Washington, IN
12,192 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gig Harbor's $106,042 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Double Spring, NV
$106,042 median income
Cumberland Head, NY
$106,048 median income
Tiffin, IA
$106,034 median income
Chatham, IL
$106,030 median income
Quonochontaug, RI
$106,058 median income
Hidden Valley, IN
$106,071 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gig Harbor, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Gig Harbor, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.5% 12.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.2% White 81.5% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 3.1% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.8% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 12.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Gig Harbor compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Gig Harbor (this city) 12,202 $106,042
East Renton Highlands 12,241 $140,048
Minnehaha 12,080 $108,203
Prairie Ridge 12,054 $110,795
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gig Harbor, WA?

What is the population of Gig Harbor, WA? +

12,202 people live in Gig Harbor, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Gig Harbor, WA? +

Median annual household income in Gig Harbor runs $106,042, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gig Harbor? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gig Harbor; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

Is Gig Harbor, WA safe? +

Gig Harbor has a total crime rate of 3167.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Gig Harbor, WA? +

Gig Harbor's median home value sits at $686,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.