Skagit County
WA · Pop. 130,407 · Suburban County
Skagit County sits in Washington across 1,730 square miles, home to 130,407 people at 75.4 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on haylage, hay, potatoes. The median home price is $486,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.82%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 229-day growing season, average summer highs of 73.3°F and average winter lows of 33.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 70.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Peacehealth United General Medical Center is 21.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 75.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 229-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.82% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Annual rainfall of 70.4 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
- A low poverty rate of 11.6% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A median home price of $486,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- Broadband reaches only 75.1% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- The nearest hospital, Peacehealth United General Medical Center, is 21.1 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Skagit County, WA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 24/100
- Median home price
- $486k
- Property tax
- 0.82%
- Growing season
- 229 days (zone 8a)
- Annual rainfall
- 70.4"
- Broadband
- 75.1%
- Nearest hospital
- Peacehealth United General Medical Center, 21.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Skagit County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Skagit County?
- Skagit County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 229-day growing season, average summer highs of 73.3°F, and average winter lows of 33.1°F. The established crops are haylage, hay, potatoes.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $486,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.82%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 75.1% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Peacehealth United General Medical Center is 21.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.
Explore Washington Resources
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More counties in Washington
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The closest counties to Skagit County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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