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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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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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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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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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. “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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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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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.
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.
Written By
Lauren Melton
Photography Contributed By
Carter Rogers
Video By
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GreatSchools:
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Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
Battle Point Park
Pool Playground
Bainbridge Island Housing Trends
On average, homes in Bainbridge Island, WA sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Bainbridge Island, WA over the last 12 months is $1,235,000, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enjoy easy access to Winslow in this charming Cape Cod home in the popular, award-winning Hillandale Neighborhood. Sited on a sunny lot close to schools, parks, town and the ferry, this light and bright home has been thoughtfully updated and maintained. An easy-to-live-in floor plan with a main floor primary suite and updated kitchen and primary bathroom. Upstairs is an open loft/bonus room with
Enjoy the ease of in-town living from this welcoming 2-bedroom, 1.75-bath condo in the heart of Winslow. Just 2–3 blocks from Madison Avenue and Winslow Way and a flat mile to the ferry, this is a wonderful, affordable opportunity to live close to the shops, restaurants, cafés and everyday conveniences that make downtown Bainbridge so appealing. Being on the ground floor is a huge benefit- only 2
Tucked into a peaceful enclave just off Madison Avenue, this beautiful Winslow townhome offers the ultimate Bainbridge Island lifestyle: genuine walkability to town without sacrificing peace and privacy. Inside, soaring cathedral ceilings and expansive walls of windows flood the main floor with an abundance of natural light rarely found in townhome living. The open-concept main level features
Classic, comfortable, and private waterfront retreat. This quality-built home, designed by Garrett Larsen, offers a marvelously spacious great room with expansive windows overlooking the water, a stone fireplace, and French doors to a covered porch and a large deck - perfect for entertaining. The beautiful private park-like grounds, just shy of an acre, feature a large sweeping lawn to the
Wind up the tree-lined driveway and watch the world fall away. Set on 5 private wooded acres, fully fenced and gated, this Bainbridge Island estate feels like your own national park - towering evergreens, dappled light, and total tranquility. Inside, gleaming solid oak hardwoods and rich custom millwork showcase craftsmanship throughout. At the heart of the home, a bright, spacious kitchen with
Enjoy the benefits of owning your own moorage in a vibrant marina community, all within walking distance of restaurants, shops, Town & Country Market, Saturday & moonlight farmers markets, theatres, & parks in downtown Winslow, plus the ferry to downtown Seattle. Slip #A6 is 32 ft x 12.55 ft, ideally located a short walk from the secure entry gate, offering a convenient starboard tie. Amenities
Harmony in Fox Cove. Last Buildable lot in Enclave of the Fox Cove community, connected to Private 400+-Feet of community waterfront via a 4.7 acre never to be built on Greenspace, located at the north side of the mouth of pristine Fletcher Bay . Peaceful neighborhood of just 10 homes. Private road community with Deeded beach, large meadow, with quiet path between. Lot 6 at roughly 88 feet high
Nestled on a private, wooded .78-acre lot near Port Madison, this architecturally inspired home blends classic Pacific Northwest design with a sense of quiet retreat. Cedar shake siding, expansive windows, and natural materials create a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape, filling the home with light and a calming, organic warmth. Inside, clean lines and ceilings with exposed beams
New England-inspired architecture meets Pacific Northwest living. This light-filled two-story home features a classic steep-pitched gable roof, timeless architectural lines, and a peaceful setting among the evergreens of Bainbridge Island. Enjoy peek-a-boo views of Hidden Cove from the view decks and embrace island living year-round.Adventure is just minutes away, with nearby wineries, art
A perfect Home on MeadowMeer Golf Course with Wraparound Porches and All season Windows . Main Story Living with Fabulous Views. Lower Level has completely separate 2 Bed, 1 bath Apartment with full Kitchen. Perfect multi Family or Generational Home. R2 Zoning allows for Short-plat and additional homesite(buyer to Verify). Modern Main Floor Kitchen remodeled 9 years ago. Historic Country Club
Perched above Eagle Harbor in one of Bainbridge Island’s most coveted waterfront settings, this extraordinary penthouse residence captures panoramic views of the marina, shoreline, and ever-changing activity on the water. Thoughtfully customized during construction, the home blends refined craftsmanship with timeless design, featuring cathedral ceilings, expansive windows, rich cherry hardwood
Private Woodland Oasis in the popular Hidden Cove Estates Neighborhood on over an acre, with open space on three sides, but with all the benefits of a beautiful, long established neighborhood. This spacious 4-bedroom home with a main floor home office plus a detached Guest Studio offers charming timeless style and exceptional privacy. Adjacent to community trails that wind through 100+ acres to
Moments become memories and life is well lived on the shores of Point White. Architecturally stunning and thoughtfully designed in collaboration with Johnson Squared Architects, this home is built for how we live. Balancing an open floor plan with private areas, the home accommodates many lifestyles with plenty of room for everyone- work from home, lock-off studio space, multigenerational living
Perched on the coveted shores of Manzanita Bay, this striking modern architectural residence captures sweeping mountain views and offers 108ft of pristine, no-bank waterfront. A gently rolling lawn leads to the water's edge, while a fully fenced perimeter and gated entrance create both privacy and a memorable sense of arrival. Inside, soaring ceilings and expansive open spaces are framed by walls
Enjoy easy access to Winslow in this charming Cape Cod home in the popular, award-winning Hillandale Neighborhood. Sited on a sunny lot close to schools, parks, town and the ferry, this light and bright home has been thoughtfully updated and maintained. An easy-to-live-in floor plan with a main floor primary suite and updated kitchen and primary bathroom. Upstairs is an open loft/bonus room with
Located in the Sunrise/Rolling Bay area of Bainbridge Island, this light-filled 1-bedroom, 1-bath rental offers a peaceful setting with territorial views, privacy, and an easy connection to the conveniences of Rolling Bay. The efficient layout lives comfortably with high ceilings, lots of windows, a generous living area, separate dining space, and a kitchen that opens to both rooms. Enjoy the
Where you call home is important. Being close and connected to the city, the Sound and the mountains is what Pacific Northwest living is all about. You're at the center of it all when you choose BLIS - or as we like to call it, Bainbridge Living, Island Style. Here, you get all the perks of island living (a charming, small-town feel with stunning scenery around every corner) but you're just a
Nestled among the trees, this serene retreat offers both peaceful seclusion and easy access to life’s conveniences. Just a short stroll to Grand Forest trails and Battle Point Park, the home invites you to embrace the outdoors while enjoying over 3,500 sq. ft. of versatile living space. The main floor features three bedrooms and two baths, while the daylight basement provides room for a guest
Welcome to Lynwood Commons Apartments, an exclusive, locally owned and professionally managed community offering refined living on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Perfectly positioned with effortless access to the Seattle Ferry, Lynwood Commons places you moments from premier shopping and dining while maintaining a sense of privacy and tranquility.Our thoughtfully designed studio, one-,
Totally remodeled Harborview condo on Eagle Harbor waterfront with all its boating activity, wildlife and mountain views. Large viewing balcony, two covered parking spots, pool , BBQ area and lovely 2 acre landscaped common area create a terrific life style. Restaurants and shopping in Winslow are 2 blocks away. Ferry access is steps away for Seattle commuters. Elevator access is across from your
Charming early 1900's home in tranquil spot just blocks to the Seattle ferry, shops and parks. Three bedroom home with spacious formal living and dining rooms, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, custom built-ins, refinished fir floors. Shy half-acre with mature landscape. Peek-a-boo water view. Ample parking and basement storage.
Beautiful Wing Point Rental! Discover this spacious and beautifully maintained four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home located in the desirable Wing Point neighborhood. Offering 3,078 square feet of living space, this residence features elegant coffered ceilings and two cozy fireplaces that create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The home is filled with abundant natural light, highlighting its open
Set on a sunny shy-acre just off Sunrise Drive, this spacious Bainbridge Island home offers the rare combination of generous indoor living and an expansive, level yard in one of the island’s most desirable locations. Thoughtfully positioned to capture natural light, the property provides exceptional space to garden, play, entertain, or simply enjoy the privacy that comes with a larger
Walkable to Winslow, local shops, restaurants, and schools, this spacious 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home offers comfortable island living in a convenient location. Enjoy a fully fenced yard with plenty of space to relax, play, or entertain. Rent includes monthly mowing and edging plus semi-annual yard cleanups, making outdoor maintenance easy. Pets considered on a case-by-case basis with an
Fully furnished in town condo is a commuter's dream. Across the street from the BI Ferry Terminal, close to shopping, entertainment, restaurants, and more. This 1 bd, 1.5 ba condo includes stacked W&D, all electric stainless steel kitchen appliances, office space, and a balcony overlooking beautiful manicured landscaping. The Harbor Square Condo Community features a fitness facility, controlled
Single story living close to town with beautiful Eagle Harbor views. Charming neighborhood. Built in the 1950's & remodeled in 2016 with all new electrical, plumbing, roof, drywall, insulation, cabinetry, countertops, lighting & appliances. This home & property is one that people fall in love with. Multi million dollar waterfront dock homes across the street. Original Oak hardwood floors
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