Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Ratings
Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Crime
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Birch Bay is a small-sized city located in the state of Washington. The city has a population of 9,917 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 83% of Birch Bay residents are White, 2% Asian and 1% American Indian and Alaskan. Birch Bay is considered to be a city with an aging population. The average age of all residents is 51, which is well beyond the United States median age average. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Birch Bay your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 26 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Birch Bay could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Washington if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Birch Bay, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, cost of living, education and more.
Birch Bay, WA receives 61 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #433 in Washington and #16,295 in the USA. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Birch Bay has received high marks for housing (B+). Birch Bay does not do well for the following: amenities (F), cost of living (D-) and education (D-). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Birch Bay can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Assuming that Birch Bay 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 Birch Bay. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Birch Bay are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Birch Bay come in at $286,600, which is 6.4% higher than the Washington average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Birch Bay, the home price to income ratio is 4.5, which is 4.7% higher than the Washington average.
| Statistic | Birch Bay | Washington | National |
| Average one way commute | 26min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 89.2% | 72.3% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.0% | 10.2% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 6.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.0% | 3.6% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 1.7% | 5.6% | 4.6% |
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