2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Birch Bay, WA vs Ocean Shores, WA

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Highlights
Are people in Ocean Shores older or younger than people in Birch Bay?
- The Median Age in Ocean Shores is 16.2 years older than in Birch Bay.

Are housing costs cheaper in Ocean Shores or Birch Bay?
- Ocean Shores housing costs are 3.9% more expensive than Birch Bay housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Ocean Shores or Birch Bay?
- The average commute for residents of Ocean Shores is 0.1 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Birch Bay.

Things to do in Birch Bay?
Birch Bay, WA is an unincorporated community that lies northwest from Bellingham along Chuckanut Drive off I-5 at the Canadian border near Semiahmoo Resort. People flock here for its sandy beaches picnic areas kayaking tourist outlets & seasonal farmers’ markets found only minutes away!

Things to do in Ocean Shores?
Living in Ocean Shores, WA is a truly unique experience. Located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, Ocean Shores offers miles of beautiful sandy beaches, lush coastal forests, and quaint towns and villages. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy such as beachcombing, bird watching, surfing, kayaking, fishing, and more. In addition to its natural beauty, the city is home to an array of charming restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries that make it a favorite destination for visitors from near and far. It's also a great place to raise a family with its low crime rate and excellent schools. All told, living in Ocean Shores is a wonderful way to experience all of the beauty this state has to offer while living within a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

 Birch Bay, WAOcean Shores, WAUnited States
 Population  Unlock6,637329,725,481
 Median Income$65,729  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock63.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$334,700  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock8.8%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time25.89  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Birch Bay    3 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

over priced  More

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Over 12 years ago

Moderate weather year round. If you can deal with five months of gray and drizzle its a good place to  More

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Over 12 years ago

Birch Bay/Blaine,just might be the best kept secret in America. Never gets to hot, or cold. Small town next to the Canadian  More

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Reviews for Ocean Shores    7 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

We are going on our 3rd year in OS. We love the small town feel, the low stress and feeling of safety. This is all for the winter months mind you. In the summer, it is a  More

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Over 10 years ago

Wonderful beach town.... we're going into our second year and I disagree with the grocery store comments and the weather. Yes, it rains or drizzles on occasion, but the  More

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We invested in Ocean Shores as a second home to spend our weekends after the work week stress. I'm also a property manager that works in Washington, Oregon and  More

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