Island County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley
Island County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Island County is home to Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley. Electrical contractors employ 147, up 30.1% since 2019 against up 6.1% statewide, at an average $83,537 a year. Next door, Snohomish County has 9 data centers. Construction employs 1,218, up 6.3% since 2019. Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 5.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Island County
Island County is home to Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Camano, Clinton, Freeland, Whidbey Island Station.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Island County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 87,001 | 85,657 | ▼ 1.5% | 16th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 16,913 | 18,140 | ▲ 7.3% | 7th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,699 | $64,784 | ▲ 51.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,146 | 1,218 | ▲ 6.3% | 16th of 33 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 113 | 147 | ▲ 30.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.4% | 4.3% | ▼ 1.1pts | — |
Employers here counted 18,140 jobs in 2025, up 7.3% from 2019 (the 7th fastest growth of 39 Washington counties). Puget Sound Energy Inc is the largest utility serving Island County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.63¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. 85,657 people live here, down 1.5% since 2020.
Who powers Island County
Utilities with service territory in Island County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound Energy Inc | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,091,599 | 14.63¢ | 41% |
| PUD No 1 of Snohomish County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 346,532 | 11.51¢ | 36% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Island County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Island County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 18,140 | $64,784 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,218 | $65,166 | 1.27 |
| Electrical contractors | 147 | $83,537 | 1.12 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Island County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Island County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Snohomish County.
Island County and its neighbors
Of the 1 counties that border Island County, Snohomish County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island County | 85,657 | ▲ 7.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Snohomish County | 870,656 | ▲ 2.5% | 125 MW | 25 MW | 9 | 1 |
More of Washington
Island County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Island County, Washington?
2 utilities have service territory in Island County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Puget Sound Energy Inc, PUD No 1 of Snohomish County. The largest, Puget Sound Energy Inc, charged residential customers 14.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Oak Harbor, WA in?
Oak Harbor is in Island County, Washington. About 24,083 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Island County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Island County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Snohomish County.
Is Island County adding jobs?
Employers counted 18,140 jobs in 2025 against 16,913 in 2019 (+7.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,146 to 1,218.
Does Island County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Island County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.