Bainbridge Island has a population of around 25,000 and sits at the center of Puget Sound, with the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier to the east and the Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Mountains to the west. Fir and pine tree forests serve as a nod to the late 1800s lumber industry. Later, local shipyards were the point of manufacturing schooners, and during World War II, production shifted to minesweepers.
Fort Ward, located at the island’s southernmost tip, was central to the United States Navy’s radio communications operations and security of Bremerton’s Naval shipyard farther west. Unlike other areas of Kitsap County, where economies are specific to the military and healthcare industries, Bainbridge Island’s economy is closely linked to Seattle and its technology companies. Tourism also supports the island’s economy. “Many people who want more space or land and to raise kids in a place out of the city do so in Bainbridge Island,” says Kelly Shipley, a broker with Coldwell Banker Bain with over two decades of real estate experience. “Part of Kitsap has lower tax rates, but Bainbridge is excluded. Taxes are higher there because they put much more towards their schools.”
The island has a mild marine climate with over 225 days of cloud cover and plenty of rainy days.
Agate Point in Bainbridge Island sits between the Agate Passage and Puget Sound.
Visitors can learn about Bainbridge Island's history at the Centennial Rotary Park.
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Million-dollar multi-acre properties and shoreside estates
Contemporary houses, Cape Cods and Craftsman estates line streets, from its forested acres in rural areas such as Agate Point to golf course neighborhoods such as Wing Point Golf and Country Club. “Yeomalt Point is just a little north of Wing Point, and it’s got an old, established neighborhood feel with fabulous Seattle views," says Carleen Gosney, managing broker at Windermere Real Estate with over 20 years of experience. "There are almost neighborhoods of families there, and several family members have owned properties in the area for years and years.” The median single-family home price is about $1.4 million, while the county’s is around $570,000, both significantly higher than the national average. Townhouses and condos, varying from contemporary to postmodern, also dot the area around Winslow.
Madrono Park homes along the waterfront sit on larger lots and often have access to the shore.
Madrono Park homes sit along the cliffside and face east towards the Puget Sound and Seattle.
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Athletic parks, Pia the Peacekeeper and trails
Trails weave through the island’s wilderness and waterfront parks. In Sakai Park, a path passes one of the island’s most famous residents, Pia the Peacekeeper, an 18-foot troll statue designed to promote environmental conservation. Other green spaces include golf courses and the nature preserves of Bloedel Reserve and Gazzam Lake.
Additionally, athletic facilities dot the area from the southern tip at Fort Ward Park to Battle Point Park farther north. Bainbridge Island Recreation Center has a Pilates studio and gymnasium.
The "Pia the Peacekeeper" Wooden Troll Sculpture sits in Sakai Park for selfies with visitors.
Locals can practice their golf at the Wing Point Golf & Country Club.
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Top-ranked Kitsap County school district with choice programming
Bainbridge Island School District serves the whole city and earns an A grade from Niche, which also ranks it the best system in Kitsap County. Additionally, the district offers choice programs like Odyssey Multiage, Mosaic Home Education Partnership and El Velero, a Spanish immersion offered at Ordway Elementary School.
The district also participates in the state’s Running Start Program, where high schoolers can earn credits from nearby colleges and universities, including Olympic College and Seattle Central College.
Older students attend Bainbridge High School, which offers many career development programs.
7th and 8th grade students attend Woodward Middle School on Bainbridge Island.
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Winslow, a center for culture and celebrations
Art galleries line Winslow Way, and museums are nearby, including the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Kids Discovery Museum and the Bainbridge History Museum. Bainbridge Performing Arts (BPA), a nonprofit community theater, sits adjacent to the Town Square at City Hall. The square hosts a farmers market with live music on Saturdays from April to November and the town’s Christmas tree lighting on Small Business Saturday. The popular Grand Old 4th of July Celebration is held by the waterfront in Winslow.
The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) has free admission and special events year round.
The Bainbridge Island Farmers Market on Saturdays can be a great place to find local produce.
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Ferries to Seattle and state highway connections
The Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, located off Winslow Way, connects the island to Seattle. State Highway 305 travels north and south through the area and ties it to the Kitsap Peninsula with the Agate Passage Bridge to the north.
Kitsap County’s public transportation service, Kitsap Transit, serves Bainbridge Island with bus stops concentrated around many thoroughfares, including WA-305 and Winslow Way. With the ferry, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)—locally called “SeaTac”—is about a 25-mile drive. SeaTac provides nonstop flights to both international and domestic destinations. Although the island has medical clinics, the closest hospital is in Silverdale, nearly 25 miles away.
Local businesses from Winslow to Lynwood Center
Winslow is a walkable downtown area with various locally owned businesses, including boutiques, cafes, bakeries and a Town & Country grocery store. “In Bainbridge Island, you stay on the island and support the island. The town is strict on what can go in there, though they have a Safeway and McDonald’s, but both are far from downtown,” Shipley says. South of Winslow, the Lynwood Center has additional locally owned shops and restaurants.
Winslow Way near Madrono Park serves as the main street for shops and dining on Bainbridge.
The Streamliner Diner in Downtown Bainbridge is a popular casual restaurant for visitors.
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Bainbridge Island Police Department and crime decline
According to the Bainbridge Island Police Department’s performance measures reports from 2022 and 2023, violent crime figures—considered “crimes against persons”—dropped by roughly 40%. Meanwhile, property crime figures fell by nearly 25%. Bainbridge Island’s violent and property crime rates both remain significantly below national and state figures, according to FBI statistics.
On average, homes in Bainbridge Island, WA sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Bainbridge Island, WA over the last 12 months is $1,305,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
