Moving to Kitsap County? 7 Things You DIDN’T Know About Living in Kitsap County
I have lived in the Pacific Northwest my whole life, and I am happy and proud to call it home! Knowing this beautiful area so well, I am the perfect person to give anyone thinking of moving to Kitsap County a heads-up on what to expect.
I’ll give you the truest insight and a bit of perspective on 7 things you definitely didn’t already know about living in Kitsap county. We all have an idea of what living somewhere might be, so I want to make sure you have realistic expectations so you can be pleasantly surprised, not disappointed.
You’ll want to read right down to number 7 as that may be the most important thing to know about what it’s really like to live in Kitsap County – and no skipping ahead!
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Living in Kitsap County
- It’s an Outdoor-Lover’s Paradise… But Downtown Lover’s Adore It Too!
All kinds of people are attracted to living in Kitsap County from the young to retirees, and many do so because of the great outdoors. Now, my husband and I love the outdoors and the unrivaled beauty of the Northwest. If you’re into hiking, sailing, fishing, mountains, and all things green, it is the perfect place for you.
But… don’t discount Kitsap County if you prefer a green downtown scene! If you’re more a downtown sort of person, you may decide that Tacoma just to the south is best for you, or maybe you choose to move to Seattle instead. Don’t get me wrong, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Kingston, and Port Orchard all have beautiful downtown waterfronts and lovely places to eat, but if you want a lot going on, Seattle will be where you want to be.
- Most People Move Here For Work
Kitsap County has a very strong economy. The biggest employers are the military bases at Bangor, Keyport, and the huge naval base at Bremerton. Next up would be jobs in the medical field. Amazon is just building a new warehouse facility right by Bremerton Airport, which will surely expand, bringing new employment opportunities.
With all the people moving here, the construction industry is very strong. So there are plenty of tradespeople needed: plumbers, electricians, concrete workers, and so on. This is happening all across the Pacific Northwest.
And Seattle is just a short ferry ride away with all the job opportunities that a thriving city can offer. So, if you’re thinking of moving to Kitsap County, finding great job opportunities shouldn’t be a problem!
- People Living in Kitsap County Make More Money!
The median salary in the U.S. is $53,000 per year, while in Kitsap County, it is $63,000. This is reflected in our cost of living, though it’s really not bad compared to Seattle or most of California. The only area that is higher than the national average is housing. Everything else, groceries, transportation, utilities, is right around the same as the whole country. Our median house price is right around $400,000 though there is obviously considerable variation. In Seattle, it is about double that!
So, more job opportunities and more money that comes with them too… what’s not to like there?
- The Weather is as Mild As You Are (Probably) Expecting
The climate in this part of the Northwest is pretty mild. We don’t get those sweltering hot days in summer nor brutal winters. In the winter of 2019, we did experience a freak snowfall of around two feet in a single day, but that is a total exception.
Usually, the only snow we get is a light dusting, and it melts really quickly. Basically, from November through February, you’re looking at mild, gray, and drizzly a lot of the time. We’ve had February days with temperatures in the early 60s, and sunshine, and sunny May days in the 80s.
Yes, it does rain. Annually we get around 150 days of rain, but it’s rare for it to rain all day. Often we’ll wake up to rain, but it’s gone by the afternoon. I love the outdoors, and the weather is just fine. In fact, I love it! If you’d rather stay busy in the rain than live with your air conditioning on and never venture outside for long, Kitsap County is perfect for you!
- The Housing Market Won’t Tank & You Need to Be Ready to Buy
I hear many people say they’re going to wait for the housing market to tank before moving to Kitsap County, but there are no signs of that happening any time soon. Pretty much everything that’s coming up for sale is receiving multiple offers. COVID-19 is having an effect. With lots of people working from home indefinitely, many are looking to leave the big cities and move to suburbia where the pace of life is slower.
I’m getting a lot of people reaching out each day; the housing market is still going strong. You really need to plan ahead if you want to move here. You want to put yourself in a position where you can jump on the house you want. If someone is in a better position, they’ll get the house.
- If You Hate Traffic, You’re Going to Find it Difficult
Want to know what it’s really like to live in Kitsap County? If you live in one of the towns that have a ferry system, you will find the roads near the ferry to get busy at certain times of the day. Most of the time, the two main arteries that serve Kitsap County, Highways 3 and 16, are free-flowing, but they can get a little congested. Hwy 3, coming through Gorst into Port Orchard, gets busy in the afternoons because of the Bremerton naval base. Hwy 16 west also receives a lot of traffic in the afternoons and evenings.
But it all depends on what you are used to. People from California seem to think our roads are always pretty clear!
At the moment, COVID-19 means that traffic generally is reduced. If people continue to work from home, they may stay that way. Even I-5 South from Seattle in the afternoons is lighter, so who knows what the future holds for traffic in Kitsap County?
- It’s Not Easy to Move Here
Moving to this area of the Pacific Northwest is not easy. Having someone who is your eyes, your ears and your boots on the ground is pivotal in making it less stressful. Houses go fast, and you need someone ready to pounce on your dream home! So please talk to me. I have helped so many people relocate to Kitsap County. I have the process dialed, and I have you covered and will watch your back.
So if you are thinking about moving to Kitsap County, you must reach out to me. I can answer any other questions about what it’s really like to live in Kitsap County, or get the ball rolling on your move. Give me a call, a text, or an email, and I will help make your move a reality!
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