The Kitsap Difference
Mountains. Forests. Seashore. And a 900-foot-deep barrier between us and urban sprawl. We call it the Kitsap Difference. Those of us who live and work in Kitsap County enjoy affordable housing, excellent schools (including a first-rate community college) and unparalleled recreational opportunities in our own backyard. The glories of big city Seattle are but a short ferry ride—or drive—away.
Kitsap at a glance
Geography
The Kitsap Peninsula lies between the snow-capped Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and is surrounded by waters of Puget Sound and the Hood Canal. With more than 200 miles of scenic shoreline, Kitsap County claims the distinction of having more saltwater shoreline than any other US county.Weather
The Olympic Mountain range buffers us from stronger weather coming off the Pacific Ocean. The weather here is generally mild year-round with neither extreme high nor low temperatures. We enjoy beautiful sunny skies and warm temperatures in spring, summer and early fall, leading into drizzly days and gray skies in late fall and winter.
Population
Kitsap County is the third most populous of Washington's 39 counties. In the 10-year span of 1990 to 2000, Kitsap grew in population by 22 percent, compared to the state's growth of 21 percent. By 2005, the population was estimated at 240,661.US Navy
The US Navy has strong roots in Kitsap. With its 73,000 active duty and family members, and 16,000 civilian employees, nearly one-third of Kitsap's residents are employed by the Navy. In addition, nearly 55,000 Navy and civilian retirees call Kitsap home.
Housing
Affordable Kitsap is a major attraction. Although the country has
experienced a steady rise is the cost of homes, the average price remains
well below the average in surrounding counties. In 2004, the Northwest Multiple
listing service listed the average home price by community:
South Kitsap $211,108
Silverdale $245,459
West Bremerton $166,108
East Bremerton $188,362
Central Kitsap $210,086
North Kitsap $270,521
Bainbridge Island $550,910
Education
Kitsap is home to four school districts. Olympic College—a two-year community college—partners with several four-year institutions, including Old Dominion, to offer baccalaureate degrees locally. Eton Technical Institute and Chapman University also provide certificate and degree programs.Nearby Seattle offers a wide range of four-year institutions including the esteemed University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, and University of Puget Sound.