City · Washington
Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo, city, in Kitsap County, Washington. Poulsbo had 12,749 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,975 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,165 (±35). GEOID 5355995.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,749
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,975 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,165 ±35
Median household income
$116,250
±$17,532 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$620,100
±$27,950 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,886
±$188 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Poulsbo and what county is it in?
Poulsbo is a city in Kitsap County, Washington. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 2,510 residents per square mile in 2020.
Poulsbo is in the Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Poulsbo, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,749 people lived in Poulsbo on July 1, 2025, up 6.7% since 2020, faster than Washington (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 11,975 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,165 (±35).
| Measure | Poulsbo | Kitsap County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,165 ±35 | 277,881 | +1,563 |
| Households | 5,321 ±278 | 108,537 | +870 |
| Average household size | 2.24 ±0.12 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,481 ±293 | 116,970 | +778 |
Poulsbo's population since 2000
From 6,813 in 2000 to 12,749 in 2025: up 87.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Poulsbo as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Poulsbo?
The median resident of Poulsbo is 43.3 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 21.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.9%. 7.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Poulsbo | Kitsap County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 ±1.9 | 40.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.3% ±2.5 pts | 19.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.6% ±3.3 pts | 19.7% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±3.1 pts | 51.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.9% ±3.5 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.5% ±5.3 pts | 72.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±1.4 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±2.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.1% ±2.7 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±2.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.9% ±3.5 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.4% ±3.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 13.2% ±3.1 pts | 14.6% | – |
| With a disability | 11.9% ±2.6 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.5% ±1.4 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.8% ±2.3 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.2% ±4.9 pts | 37.9% | +7.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.0% ±3.6 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.7% ±5.6 pts | 85.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.1% ±2.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Poulsbo earn?
Half of Poulsbo's 5,321 households earn less than $116,250 a year (±$17,532), against $104,158 in Kitsap County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $90,318 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $25,932 after inflation. 9.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Poulsbo | Kitsap County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $116,250 ±$17,532 | $104,158 | +$25,932 |
| Mean household income | $125,619 ±$11,675 | $132,745 | – |
| Per capita income | $56,418 ±$4,994 | $53,544 | +$10,185 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.3% ±4.2 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.9% ±5.4 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.9% ±3.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.9% ±1.1 pts | 98.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.6% ±2.2 pts | 95.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Poulsbo?
Owners occupy 59.0% of Poulsbo's occupied homes and renters 41.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $620,100 by its owner (±$27,950). The median renter pays $1,886 a month including utilities, and 41.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Poulsbo | Kitsap County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $620,100 ±$27,950 | $555,100 | +$176,804 |
| Median gross rent | $1,886 ±$188 | $1,822 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.0% ±12.5 pts | 42.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,479 ±$178 | $2,330 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.0% ±6.1 pts | 70.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.0% ±6.1 pts | 29.9% | – |
| Housing units | 5,481 ±293 | 116,970 | +778 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4% ±5.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.6% ±5.1 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.2% ±0.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.1% ±2.5 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 22.1% ±4.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.6% ±3.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.6% ±2.9 pts | 4.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Poulsbo building?
Builders took permits for 161 new housing units in Poulsbo in 2025 (89 in single-family houses), 12.6 per 1,000 residents against 4.4 across Washington.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Poulsbo work and get to work?
56.0% of Poulsbo's workers drive alone and 24.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Poulsbo | Kitsap County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.4% ±5.1 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% ±1.9 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 56.0% ±7.2 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5% ±6.6 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 6.9% ±2.9 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 24.1% ±5.3 pts | 16.0% | +20.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.3 min ±4.2 | 28.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Poulsbo?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Poulsbo, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $58,781 (Tract 905.01) to $143,063 (Tract 905.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 905.02Kitsap County | 5,084 | $143,063 |
| Tract 905.01Kitsap County | 4,174 | $58,781 |
| Tract 902.02Kitsap County | 5,731 | $120,250 |
| Tract 902.01Kitsap County | 5,723 | $128,859 |
| Tract 9401Kitsap County | 7,304 | $97,286 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Poulsbo) · Census block assignment files
How does Poulsbo compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Poulsbo is the 2,708th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 80th-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Poulsbo ranks 110th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 80th | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 61st | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 120th | 394 |
| Median household income | 110th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 97th | 393 |
| Median home value | 125th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 116th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 149th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66th | 382 |
| Median age | 126th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 302nd | 388 |
| Work from home | 81st | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 164th | 394 |
Poulsbo's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Poulsbo with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Poulsbo?
10 of the 57 figures for Poulsbo on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Poulsbo are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Poulsbo.