Rents are right about where Poulsbo's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,420 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Poulsbo is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2021.
Rent in Poulsbo changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($116,250) is $2,906 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,230); a 3-bedroom is $2,910.
Silverdale, 8 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,093/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Poulsbo. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Poulsbo, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 49.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Poulsbo, WA has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Poulsbo, WA has climbed from $2,063 to $2,420, a 17.3% change over five years. Median household income rose from $79,248 to $116,250 between 2021 and 2024, a 46.7% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 4.4% since 2021, moving from about 11,652 residents to roughly 12,165. College-educated residents now make up 49.2% of adults here, versus 43.1% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Poulsbo, WA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Poulsbo on your salary?
At $2,420/mo, how Poulsbo rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Poulsbo rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Poulsbo. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Poulsbo
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Poulsbo is $2,420/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,530/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,700/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,910/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($116,250/yr), Poulsbo ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Poulsbo?
Is rent going up or down in Poulsbo?
How does Poulsbo rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Poulsbo?
At $2,420/mo, rent takes ~25% of Poulsbo's median household income ($116,250/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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