Community Profiles

Port Orchard

Port Orchard

Situated against the Sinclair Inlet with the Cascade and Olympic Mountains in the distance, Port Orchard (population 14,770) is the county seat and the commercial center for South Kitsap. Port Orchard is a historic ‘port’ discovered and named by early Puget Sound explorers, with one of Puget Sound’s largest marinas – owned and operated by the Port of Bremerton. The community is completely oriented toward the water with miles of winding, scenic roadways passing beautiful inlets and hidden coves.

Christmas paradeOur downtown corridor offers shopping, museums, entertainment, galleries and dining.  Port Orchard residents enjoy a true sense of community and enjoy a thriving Farmer’s Market, weekly Artwalk, the annual Fathom’s O’ Fun Parade in June, and the Jingle Bell Run and Festival of Chimes and Lights every December. Amenities include a beautiful waterfront park, nearby Manchester State Park and premier golf courses. With ferry access from Bremerton and Seattle, an excursion to or from Port Orchard is an easy day trip or a weekend getaway.  When visiting our city, it is hard to miss the majestic view of the Olympic Mountains and the pride of military heritage just across the water at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Population Demographics

As of 2025 the population of Port Orchard is 19,241. The population is expected to grow to 20,849 by 2030 - a growth rate of 1.62%.

The median age of Port Orchard residents is 38.

The diversity index of Port Orchard is 57.2, meaning that there is a 57% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.

Housing and Income

The average household income in Port Orchard is $112,445 and projected to be $128,435 in 2030. Per capita income is $41,705, projected to be $47,800 in 2030. 4.22% of households – 812 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $1,184,195 and the average disposable income is $89,294.

There are 7,580 housing units in Port Orchard; 4,737 are owner-occupied, 2,352 are rented, and 491 are vacant. The average home value is $557,388, with 1,594 homes built in 2010 or later, and 438 built in 1939 or earlier.

Business and Workforce

There are 822 businesses in Port Orchard, employing 8,978 workers and pulling from a labor force of 7,255 age 16 and above. 1,739 workers commute into Port Orchard from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:

5,384 residents both live and work in/around Port Orchard. The average travel time is 33.3 minutes. 3.73% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 10.01% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 5,132 drive alone, 736 carpool, and 506 take public transportation. 210 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 671 residents work from home.

3,317 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 1,944 have associates degrees, 3,154 have bachelor’s degrees, and 1,387 hold a graduate or professional degree.