Oak Harbor 76 Exceptional
Oak Harbor Livability #147 ranked city in Washington#3,326 ranked city in the USARanks better than 88% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Oak Harbor

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.

  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Schools Schools

    The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.

  • Ratings Ratings

    AreaVibes collected feedback from local residents in the area through surveys and polls, and the results did not show a favorable view of things like local amenities and the safety of the area.

What's it like Living in Oak Harbor?

Located in the state of Washington, Oak Harbor is a medium-sized city with a population of 24,266 inhabitants. The majority of Oak Harbor residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. With an average age of 30 years old, Oak Harbor could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Oak Harbor. With an average one way commute time of only 21 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a fulfilling experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Oak Harbor, Washington. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like cost of living, commute, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Oak Harbor and in the areas around Oak Harbor is a much easier task.

With a livability score of 77/100, Oak Harbor is ranked #2,635 in the United States and #123 in Washington. This is a fantastic score, as Oak Harbor ranks well in multiple categories! Another exciting tidbit, is that Oak Harbor ranks better than 90% of all US cities! If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Oak Harbor has higher than average scores for the following: crime (A+), education (B+) and housing (A-). Oak Harbor does not do well for the following: cost of living (D). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 113 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Oak Harbor boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Oak Harbor has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Oak Harbor meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Oak Harbor. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Oak Harbor are simply unattainable. The median home price for Oak Harbor homes is $546,517, which is 11.1% higher than the Washington average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Oak Harbor, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.4, which is 18.5% higher than the Washington average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Oak Harbor

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      Oak Harbor transportation information

      Statistic Oak Harbor Washington National
      Average one way commute21min27min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.0%72.3%76.4%
      Workers who carpool12.5%10.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.4%6.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.9%0.6%
      Workers who walk3.1%3.6%2.8%
      Working from home4.1%5.6%4.6%
      Source: The Oak Harbor, WA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.