Small-town market profile · Washington
Oak Harbor, WA area market data
How the Oak Harbor area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 85,657
- −1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 35,972
- Median household income
- $90,551
- +32.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $593,300
- Jobs located here
- 16,025
- Highest market score
- 83
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #15 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Oak Harbor area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Oak Harbor area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Oak Harbor area has an estimated 85,657 people and 35,972 households. Population estimates show the Oak Harbor area declined 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Oak Harbor area is $90,551, 12% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 32.0%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Oak Harbor area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (92).
Of the business types scored in the Oak Harbor area, fast food and sandwich shops (83), pizza places (82) and convenience stores (82) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #15 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The Oak Harbor area is made up of one county, Island County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for coffee shops and cafes (49% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (71% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Oak Harbor area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Oak Harbor area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 83 | #15 of 537 | 26 | 7.2 | $5.8M | 190 | 38 |
| Pizza | 82 | #12 of 520 | 17 | 4.7 | $8.9M | 174 | 38 |
| Convenience stores | 82 | #12 of 529 | 8 | 2.2 | $28.3M | 359 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 81 | #18 of 538 | 34 | 9.5 | $1.2M | 279 | 21 |
| Auto repair and car care | 81 | #19 of 538 | 67 | 18.6 | $630K | 235 | 24 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 78 | #24 of 387 | 5 | 1.4 | $8.4M | 274 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 78 | #31 of 458 | 9 | 2.5 | $5.4M | 304 | 24 |
| Gas stations | 78 | #33 of 536 | 21 | 5.8 | $5.1M | 213 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 77 | #32 of 454 | 19 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 136 | 12 |
| Funeral homes | 77 | #36 of 365 | 5 | 1.4 | $1.3M | 186 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 76 | #42 of 431 | 7 | 1.9 | $6M | 241 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 75 | #26 of 504 | 21 | 5.8 | $1.8M | 208 | 4 |
| Barbershops | 75 | #43 of 377 | 10 | 2.8 | $3.8M | 203 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 75 | #55 of 536 | 17 | 4.7 | $4M | 314 | 10 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 75 | #57 of 536 | 27 | 7.5 | $2.5M | 285 | 10 |
| Pest control | 74 | #10 of 85 | 5 | 1.4 | $9.8M | 96 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 74 | #51 of 441 | 10 | 2.8 | $4.2M | 168 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 73 | #58 of 538 | 291 | 80.9 | $518K | 140 | 140 |
| Insurance agencies | 73 | #81 of 537 | 23 | 6.4 | $3.3M | 261 | 20 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 72 | #53 of 538 | 52 | 14.5 | $4.4M | 128 | 20 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 70 | #52 of 476 | 11 | 3.1 | $9.6M | 203 | 29 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 70 | #84 of 538 | 165 | 45.9 | $295K | 193 | 77 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 69 | #77 of 538 | 131 | 36.4 | $1.1M | 173 | 66 |
| Hair salons | 66 | #81 of 538 | 50 | 13.9 | $765K | 178 | 18 |
| Gyms | 65 | #85 of 506 | 22 | 6.1 | $1.9M | 148 | 11 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 64 | #85 of 378 | 12 | 3.3 | $3.5M | 175 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 64 | #99 of 398 | 15 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 92 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 64 | #124 of 526 | 27 | 7.5 | $1.8M | 183 | 24 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 63 | #103 of 538 | 99 | 27.5 | $386K | 182 | 32 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 62 | #26 of 112 | 11 | 3.1 | $3.9M | 95 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 61 | #128 of 426 | 16 | 4.4 | $3M | 127 | 11 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 60 | #47 of 177 | 13 | 3.6 | Index only | 132 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 60 | #135 of 526 | 29 | 8.1 | $3.7M | 150 | 76 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 60 | #144 of 535 | 45 | 12.5 | $941K | 142 | 21 |
| Roofing and gutters | 59 | #89 of 288 | 7 | 1.9 | $15.1M | 179 | 16 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 58 | #135 of 387 | 16 | 4.4 | $2.3M | 92 | 10 |
| House cleaning | 57 | #48 of 142 | 7 | 1.9 | $7M | 110 | 21 |
| Pet businesses | 55 | #206 of 527 | 46 | 12.8 | $815K | 93 | 28 |
| Pet stores | 54 | #91 of 220 | 10 | 2.8 | $3.7M | 83 | 7 |
| Electricians | 54 | #125 of 295 | 11 | 3.1 | $9.6M | 80 | 31 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 54 | #210 of 507 | 25 | 6.9 | $6M | 145 | 35 |
| Grocery stores | 51 | #260 of 506 | 29 | 8.1 | $7.8M | 84 | 16 |
| Nail salons | 50 | #207 of 387 | 17 | 4.7 | $2.3M | 135 | 9 |
| Property management | 49 | #95 of 180 | 13 | 3.6 | Index only | 93 | 20 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 41 | #261 of 399 | 21 | 5.8 | $2.3M | 80 | 68 |
| Physical therapy | 40 | #274 of 400 | 25 | 6.9 | $1.9M | 81 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 39 | #334 of 481 | 33 | 9.2 | $1.5M | 89 | 93 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #456 of 533 | 103 | 28.6 | Index only | 119 | 68 |
| Real estate | 33 | #475 of 536 | 133 | 37.0 | Index only | 116 | 101 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 32 | #456 of 529 | 59 | 16.4 | $2.6M | 69 | 35 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.1 | Index only | 64 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.1 | $12.2M | 388 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.8 | $22.6M | 180 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $42.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Oak Harbor area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $42.2M | $1,174 | 123 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $106.8M | $2,970 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $150.6M | $4,187 | 103 |
| Groceries | $226.2M | $6,289 | 100 |
| Personal care products and services | $38.3M | $1,064 | 106 |
| Child care and other personal services | $25.9M | $719 | 124 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $42.4M | $1,177 | 120 |
| Medical and dental services | $48.7M | $1,353 | 105 |
| Pets | $37.5M | $1,042 | 115 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $67.7M | $1,883 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $75.3M | $2,093 | 107 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $106M | $2,946 | 98 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $49.2M | $1,368 | 97 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $670.9M | $18,650 | 112 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Oak Harbor area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 85,657−1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 35,972
- Median age
- 46.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 209 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 416
- Median household income
- $90,551+32.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $113,035
- Median home value
- $593,300
- Jobs located here
- 16,025
- Daytime population
- 70,254Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Oak Harbor area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Oak Harbor area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Oak Harbor area 1
- Island County, WA86,836 people
Other markets based in Washington 12
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area4,061,920 people
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area597,123 people
- Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area311,807 people
- Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area299,067 people
- Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro area277,881 people
- Yakima, WA metro area257,152 people
- Bellingham, WA metro area230,503 people
- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro area131,328 people
- Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metro area124,538 people
- Longview-Kelso, WA metro area112,360 people
- Walla Walla, WA metro area62,161 people
- Moses Lake, WA area101,799 people
Questions
How fast is the Oak Harbor, WA area growing?
Population estimates put the Oak Harbor area at 85,657 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 35,972 households. Median household income rose 32.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Oak Harbor, WA area spend?
Households in the Oak Harbor area spend about $670.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $226.2M on groceries and $150.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Oak Harbor area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (92).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Oak Harbor, WA area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Oak Harbor area are for fast food and sandwich shops (83), pizza places (82) and convenience stores (82). The Oak Harbor area ranks #15 of 537 scored small-town markets for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does the Oak Harbor, WA area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Oak Harbor area is $90,551 a year, 12% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $593,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Oak Harbor area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for coffee shops and cafes (49% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (71% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 50 of the 56 business types have a score in the Oak Harbor area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Oak Harbor area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Washington · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Oak Harbor area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Oak Harbor area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.