$1,027,984Average Value$577Average Price per Sq Ft43Homes For Sale
Rural island community between Seattle and Tacoma
On a forested island between the Kitsap Peninsula, Seattle and Tacoma, Vashon is an agricultural center untouched by mass commercialization. “As soon as you get off the ferry, Vashon says, 'Welcome home.' Whether you're simply visiting or looking for a new hometown, Vashon greets everyone with open arms; it’s the perfect blend of rural charm and urban vibe,” says Nichole Banducci, resident and Vashon-Maury Chamber of Commerce executive director. “On Vashon, we often use the term 'It Takes an Island.' As a community without bridges to the mainland or even traffic lights, islanders naturally rely on each other. We show up to our kid's sporting events, regularly support local arts, donate to important causes, and even offer to return your shopping cart with ours at the grocery store.”
The island’s economy is fueled by farming and tourism. The population is about 11,000, according to the United States Census Bureau, and double that in the summer. With proximity to Seattle and Tacoma, employers in the technology, aerospace, and healthcare industries are nearby. “Many people come for [vacation rentals], and people looking to move to Seattle come for remoteness and quiet,” says Aaron Hendon, a local managing broker with Christine & Company for over eight years.
Outdoor recreation and Oscar the Bird King
Trailheads dot forested areas, including Maury Island Marine Park on the island’s east coast and Shinglemill Creek Natural Area on the west. The troll statue “Oscar the Bird King” at Point Robinson Park is part of a Seattle-based, six-troll project to promote watershed protection and habitat preservation in the Northwest region of Washington. Oscar is entirely made of recycled materials and bears a crown of birdhouses. Waterfront areas include various parks, rocky beaches and marinas.
Architectural variety from the waterfront to farmland
Homes here include Cape Cod cottages, ranch styles and traditional farmhouses throughout the island, from the waterfront to forested acres and farmland. Many low-bank waterfront properties have seawalls to guard against potential flooding, and property sizes vary from less than an acre to around 25 acres. The median home price is about $880,000, roughly double the national median. Vashon has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, while the national average is 4. According to the King County Sheriff’s Office of Vashon Crime Statistics, overall crime figures declined by 11% from 2022 to 2023. “It’s like living in Mayberry; it's very community friendly,” Hendon says, recalling when the sheriff took the time to return Hendon's child's bike home that had been left at the soccer fields.
Large homes sit on the bluff overlooking the water on Vashon Island.
Go sailing through Maury Island Aquatic Reserve in Vashon Island.
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Schooling on island and Links Alternative Learning
Vashon Island School District has three schools, serving kindergarten through 12th grade. The district also has the Links Alternative Learning school, where instruction is given outside traditional classrooms. Links Alternative Learning has a kindergarten through eighth-grade program and one for ninth through 12th grade. The district earns an A grade overall from Niche. “When we were first checking out the schools, the cafeteria had a salad bar and really good fresh food, not what you'd think of as cafeteria food,” Hendon says.
Farm stands, downtown and bulk buying off-island
Gift shops, boutiques and home supply stores comprise downtown Vashon. Various restaurants are based downtown, including pizzerias and a butcher shop-restaurant combination. This island center hosts most local events, including the Vashon Strawberry Festival in July and the bike decorating event, Stupid Bike Night, in September. Although national food delivery providers do not serve the island, the Vashon Eats website offers delivery from local restaurants. According to Hendon, weekly groceries can be purchased on the island at the local markets and farm stands, but bulk buying is typically done off-island. Galleries and the Vashon Heritage Museum are also located nearby. The Vashon Center for the Arts holds live theatrical performances and arts courses.
Highway cut-through and learning the ferry system
Vashon Highway, which has King County Metro bus stops, connects the North End Ferry Terminal and the Tahlequah-Point Defiance Ferry on the island’s southern tip. The northern ferry has routes to Fauntleroy, Southworth and Seattle. Although the island has medical centers, the nearest hospitals are located off-island in Seattle and Tacoma. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has domestic and international flights, about 15 miles off the Fauntleroy ferry. “Ferries are ridiculously different from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You could wait two hours in line to get on, and if you’re not on the 3 o'clock boat Fridays in summer, you could be stuck in Seattle,” Hendon says. With summertime traffic in mind, he adds, “You cannot move here because it is more convenient. You have to move here knowing it’s a bit exotic, an adventure and willing to give up convenience for a couple of acres.”
Written By
Lauren Melton
Photography Contributed By
Perry Cucinotta
Video By
Mallory Nolte
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On average, homes in Vashon, WA sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Vashon, WA over the last 12 months is $945,000, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Perched above Spring Beach on Vashon Island's sought-after South End, this impeccably maintained 4-bedroom, 3-bath retreat offers breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Colvos Passage, and the Olympic Mountains from a rare and private 20-acre estate. Thoughtfully updated and lovingly cared for, the home features a new roof, fresh interior paint, new carpet, and countless additional improvements
Some properties are nearly impossible to capture in words, and this is one of them. Set across 4.77 acres on two parcels, each with its own District 19 water share, this private retreat is moments from town yet feels worlds away. Layers of beautiful shade trees, lush grasses and flowers, heritage orchard plantings, more than 500 varieties of dahlias, irrigated raised beds, a greenhouse, seasonal
Nicole Donnelly MartinVashon Isl. Sotheby's Int'l RE
Perched above Tramp Harbor, this Vashon Island retreat delivers sweeping views of the East Passage of Puget Sound, and the Cascades — along with magnificent sun and moonrises. The main floor of this 2-bedroom, 3-bath residence offers a large living room with cozy fireplace, renovated chef’s kitchen with adjacent family room, and dining room with stunning views. Retreat upstairs to a gorgeous
A rare chance to own 6.5 sunny, private acres on Vashon Island - formerly part of the iconic Misty Isle Farm and now surrounded by King County parkland and Vashon’s trail system. This exceptional property features two separate homes, two septic systems, a private shared well, RV hookup - offering unmatched flexibility for multigenerational living, rental income, homesteading, or Vashon Island
Perched above Spring Beach on Vashon Island's sought-after South End, this impeccably maintained 4-bedroom, 3-bath retreat offers breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Colvos Passage, and the Olympic Mountains from a rare and private 20-acre estate. Thoughtfully updated and lovingly cared for, the home features a new roof, fresh interior paint, new carpet, and countless additional improvements
Never before on the market, this grand Vashon Island estate offers a rare combination of privacy, beauty, and scale on 10 fully fenced acres with private trail connections to Island Center Forest. Custom-built in 2006 and lightly lived in, the home features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and expansive spaces designed for luxury living, entertaining, and hobbies. The new designer kitchen is the showpiece,
Nicole Donnelly MartinVashon Isl. Sotheby's Int'l RE
Perched in the sunny, quiet community of Dockton, this solid mid-century home captures stunning views of Quartermaster Harbor. With over 3000 square feet, classic 1947 brick construction, and large light-filled rooms rooms – your renovations will bring tremendous value. A wall of elegant wood-trimmed windows in the living and dining rooms frame the harbor views. The spacious kitchen and family
Facing Mt. Rainier, bounded by hundreds of acres of marine park, a step from the long, sandy beach, the uncomplicated livability of this waterfront home is unsurpassed! A wall of windows in the great room and primary suite offer a virtually unlimited view of the mountain, shipping lanes, Cascades and cities across the water. Every important living space overlooks the Sound and Mt. Rainier. A
Some properties are nearly impossible to capture in words, and this is one of them. Set across 4.77 acres on two parcels, each with its own District 19 water share, this private retreat is moments from town yet feels worlds away. Layers of beautiful shade trees, lush grasses and flowers, heritage orchard plantings, more than 500 varieties of dahlias, irrigated raised beds, a greenhouse, seasonal
Nicole Donnelly MartinVashon Isl. Sotheby's Int'l RE
Nestled along the shores of Inner Quartermaster Harbor, this beautifully updated medium-bank waterfront home captures exceptional sunrise views and the tranquil rhythm of harbor life. Thoughtfully renovated with modern finishes and inviting living spaces, this turnkey retreat seamlessly blends comfort and coastal charm. This inviting 2-bedroom, 2-bath home offers exceptional versatility with a
Splendidly situated on Morgan Hill in the heart of Vashon Island, this extraordinary property unfolds across 15+ acres of cultivated gardens and towering forest. A true gardener’s paradise, the grounds feature hand-selected specimen trees, a picturesque pond, fruit trees, fertile beds, and a generous fenced in garden and chicken area, all graced by a serene stretch of Judd Creek meandering along
West-facing waterfront on Quartermaster Harbor, with 80 feet of frontage, a sandy beach, level lawn, private boat ramp and permitted buoy for effortless days on the water. Set in one of Vashon’s most idyllic locations, the calm, protected harbor frontage is perfect for paddling, boating, swimming, watching boat traffic head toward the marinas, water skiing and amazing Dungeness crabbing right in
Nicole Donnelly MartinVashon Isl. Sotheby's Int'l RE
Quartermaster Harbor view cedar home on a sunny, west-facing half acre with sunset views, timeless craftsmanship, and beautifully updated interiors. With 3 bedrooms, plus another room for office or overflow sleeping space, and 2,320 square feet, this home offers the ideal blend of warmth, style, and functionality. The open-concept kitchen and main living area feature vaulted ceilings, hardwood
Nicole Donnelly MartinVashon Isl. Sotheby's Int'l RE
THIS is the summer YOU get to enjoy Vashon for more than a weekend getaway! You've been talking about it, and NOW is the time. Amazing price refresh makes it possible. This is zen waterfront living in a charming Vashon Island cabin with 3 beds and 1.5 baths. Boasting 150 feet of low-bank shoreline, with sweeping views of the water in Quartermaster Harbor and Mt. Rainier, this property includes
Discover an extraordinary blend of refined luxury, architectural sophistication, and pristine natural beauty on 5.5 fully fenced and professionally landscaped acres in the heart of Vashon. Privately tucked behind a gated entry, this Northwest Contemporary estate offers serene island living with sweeping views of Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains, and Mt. Rainier. The setting is exceptionally
PRIME UPTOWN VASHON ISLAND RESTAURANT FOR LEASE: Exceptional ±1,500 SF commercial kitchen and dining space available on highly visible Vashon Highway. Located in the heart of Vashon's most active commercial corridor, this high-exposure location offers a vibrant, walkable atmosphere with heavy year-round pedestrian traffic. The property features excellent street visibility, street parking, and
Single small office OR combination of up to 3 offices in one suite with common kitchen, conference room, WIFI and exquisite 1928 construction with all finishes remodeled to "AS NEW" state or condition. Call your Broker for access to view. June 1st 2026 earliest available.Offices from $375 up to $2000 depending on which space(s) you choose. Broker/Owner. Have a suite of three offices available.
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