Oak Harbor, WA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Harbor, WA Crime

Is Oak Harbor, WA safe?

Oak Harbor earns a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A), making it one of the more secure small cities in Washington State. Of the six neighborhoods analyzed, 83.3% received a Grade A and the remaining 16.7% received a Grade B — meaning 100% of Oak Harbor neighborhoods fall into the safe category (A or B combined). No neighborhoods received a C, D, or F grade. Standout safe areas include Penn Cove Park (A+), Fairway Point (A), Ridgehaven (A−), Oak Grove (A−), and Castilian Hills (A−). Even the city's highest-crime neighborhood, Olympic Gardens, holds a solid Grade B, indicating that risk remains low across the board.

What is the overall crime grade for Oak Harbor?

Oak Harbor's overall crime grade is B− on a citywide basis, which accounts for factors like population density (934 residents per square mile), an unemployment rate of 6.9%, and a poverty rate of 9.3%. However, when neighborhoods are evaluated individually, the picture brightens considerably: 5 out of 6 neighborhoods (83.3%) score an A, and the sixth scores a B. This gap between the city-level B− and the neighborhood-level A distribution reflects how concentrated demographic and economic pressures can affect aggregate scores even when most residential pockets remain very safe.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Oak Harbor?

Based on 2026 crime data, here is how Oak Harbor's six analyzed neighborhoods rank by safety grade:

1. Penn Cove Park — A+: The top-ranked neighborhood, with a median household income of $121,264 and a population of just 72 residents. Its combination of affluence and small size contributes to exceptionally low crime levels.
2. Fairway Point — A: A close second, with a median income of $103,804 and a population of 74. Consistently low incident rates make this one of the most desirable areas on Whidbey Island.
3. Ridgehaven — A−: Home to 340 residents and a median income of $76,486, Ridgehaven balances a larger population with strong safety outcomes.
4. Oak Grove — A−: With 261 residents and a median income of $67,248, Oak Grove maintains an A− grade despite being closer to the citywide income average.
5. Castilian Hills — A−: The most populous A-rated neighborhood at 350 residents, with a median income of $69,322 — demonstrating that safety grades hold even as neighborhood size increases.
6. Olympic Gardens — B: The largest analyzed neighborhood at 649 residents and a median income of $55,660 (closest to the city median of $56,889). While it carries the city's highest relative crime level, a Grade B still signals a safe environment by most measures.

Which neighborhood has the most crime in Oak Harbor?

Olympic Gardens is Oak Harbor's highest-crime neighborhood, earning a Grade B. With a population of 649 — the largest of the six neighborhoods studied — and a median household income of $55,660, it sits closest to the city's economic median. Importantly, a Grade B does not indicate a dangerous area; it simply means crime rates are slightly elevated compared to the A-rated neighborhoods. Residents of Olympic Gardens benefit from the same community-oriented environment that characterizes Oak Harbor broadly, and no neighborhood in the city scored below a B.

How does Oak Harbor's crime compare to other cities its size?

With a population of 23,358 and a median home value of $295,212, Oak Harbor is a mid-sized island community. Its B− overall crime grade and 100% of neighborhoods rated A or B compare favorably to similarly sized U.S. cities, many of which have neighborhoods rated D or F. The city's relatively low poverty rate of 9.3% and median rent of $1,250 help support community stability. The unemployment rate of 6.9% is a factor that analysts watch, as it can correlate with property crime trends — but current neighborhood grades suggest that impact remains limited in Oak Harbor's residential areas.

Is Oak Harbor a good place to live for families?

Oak Harbor's safety profile makes it a strong choice for families. 83.3% of its neighborhoods carry an A grade, and the city's overall safety rating is Very Safe (A). The median household income of $56,889 and median home value of $295,212 suggest relative affordability compared to many Western Washington markets. Neighborhoods like Ridgehaven and Castilian Hills, both rated A−, offer larger residential populations with incomes well above the poverty line, making them practical options for families seeking safe, community-oriented settings. The 9.3% poverty rate remains below the national average, further supporting Oak Harbor's reputation as a stable place to raise children.