Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Key Contacts
Hunt Military Communities
Whidbey Island
2205 Egret Dr.
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
PH: (360) 679-4241
School Liaison Officer
260 W Pioneer Way, Bldg. 13
Oak Harbor, WA 98278
PH: (360) 257-6863
Hours of Operation:
By appointment only
Fleet and Family Support Center
3675 Lexington Street, Bldg. 2556
Oak Harbor, WA 98278
PH: (360) 257-6289
Hours of Operation:
Virtual services available by webinar and phone
Most installation services will be available Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. As always, call first to confirm hours and availability of services.
Helpful hint: Contact these offices early in the week during the morning time frame.
About naval station whidbey island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is located near Oak Harbor, on Whidbey Island, in Island County, Washington. It is the premier naval aviation installation in the Pacific Northwest and home to all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-18G Growler. Adding to the depth and capability of the air station are eight Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons flying the P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon, and EP-3E Aries.
Navy Search and Rescue provides 24-hour day and night maritime, inland, and mountainous rescue support for Department of Defense personnel and the greater Pacific Northwest community. Here are 20 active-duty Navy squadrons and 3 Ready Reserve squadrons based at NAS Whidbey Island. The air station also maintains a Search and Rescue Unit that flies two Sikorsky MH-60S Nighthawks.
Over 25 tenant commands are at NAS Whidbey Island to provide training, medical, dental, and other support services. The base continues its longstanding role as a center of activity for Naval Air Reserve operations and regional training.
About Island County
OVERVIEW
Whidbey Island is the largest island in the contiguous United States. The major towns on this island include Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Langley, Greenbank, and Freeland. It is a relaxing and charming place with a very moderate climate.
ATTRACTIONS
The Seattle Metro area is lively and cosmopolitan, beautifully set on the water with a dramatic backdrop of forests and mountains. The greater coastal and island area of the Pacific Northwest offers many opportunities for outdoor adventures, including beaches, parks, marine life, and more. Hiking, camping, and scenic drives with spectacular views are also options in proximity to the Cascade and Olympic mountains. Whether it’s arts and culture or nearby recreation, being stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island has no shortage of things to do and see.
HELPFUL HINTS
This is considered to be a lower-cost living area. Commute times, schools, and accessibility of restaurants and shopping should be considered when choosing a neighborhood and its proximity to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
LOCATION
Eighty-five miles north of Seattle and just east of the Salish Sea, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is situated southeast of the San Juan Islands, an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest between Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is located in Island County, Washington, near Oak Harbor. For those traveling in and out of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island area by air, Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is located in nearby downtown Seattle.
WEATHER
The northern boundary of Puget Sound has a mixture of low rolling hills combined with an intricate maze of sheltered inland saltwater. It has a mild climate characterized by wintertime clouds and rain but lots of summertime sunshine. The average rainfall at NAS Whidbey Island is 22 inches per year, and the average snowfall is 4 inches. The months of May through September average highs between 68-72 degrees. In the winter, the lows hover around 30 degrees.
Looking at relocating?
Enter your information below and we will reach out to help the process.
Nearby Neighborhoods
HOUSING
Homes on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island are managed by Hunt Military Communities. These are beautiful, spacious, 2 to 4 bedroom homes with a mix of well-established and new construction, single-family and townhome-style homes. Residents have access to walking trails, playgrounds, and basketball courts. The community center boasts a demonstration kitchen, movie theater, basketball court, billiards room, and a library. The primary area those stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island choose to live in is the Oak Harbor community. There are many vibrant neighborhoods from which to pick. There is one school district that services Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor Public Schools. There are five elementary schools, an intermediate school, a middle school, and a high school. There are approximately 6,000 students in PreK-12th grade with a teacher to student ratio of 18:1.
Oak Harbor
ABOUT
Known for its convenience to Naval Air Station Whidbey, neighborhoods in Island County offer many options for city and urban comforts and are close to waterfront activities.
Popular Neighborhoods
- Swantown
- Fort Nugent
- West Beach
- Mariner’s Cove
- Pen Cove Park
Nearby Attractions
- Turtleback Mountain
- Pacific Northwest
- Naval Air Museum
- Deception Pass Tours
- Heritage Distilling Company
- The Whidbey Playhouse
By the Numbers
- Population 25,000
- Household Income $56,000
- Median Home Value: Home values vary widely in this area. Ask your real estate agent for local market analysis.
Big Plus
- Neighborhoods offer a mix of new construction and condominiums
- Great, unique dining options that include fresh local seafood
- Average five-mile commute to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island via Goldie RoadThings
Things to Consider
- Older, manufactured homes may be marketed as “remodeled ramblers.”
- Smaller outlying communities beyond Oak Harbor may have very few housing options
7 Reasons You Should Consider Buying a Home
1. TAX ADVANTAGES
To encourage homeownership, the IRS has provided many tax breaks for owning a home. Credits may be available for specific home improvements, such as using clean energy or for qualified first-time home buyers. The way most homeowners see those advantages is through income tax itemization and deductions like mortgage interest and real estate taxes.
2. STABALIZE MONTHLY HOME COSTS
Owning your own house is one of the safest bets on stabilizing your monthly home costs. There’s no worry of rent getting increased significantly after each year of living in someone else’s home. Additionally, when you answer to yourself, there is no worry of landlord changes or unexpected lease termination.
3. HOUSE HACKING
Generally speaking, house hacking is a smart strategy that involves renting out a portion of your primary residence as a means of generating income to offset your own living expenses. Think turning your finished basement or mother-in-law quarters into an AirBnB! Or consider purchasing a multi-unit duplex or triplex: live on one side and rent out the other! If your home making money while you’re living in it doesn’t sound like your thing, there’s always renting it out after you PCS as an income generating investment property.
4. Increased Privacy
Generally speaking, house hacking is a smart strategy that involves renting out a portion of your primary residence as a means of generating income to offset your own living expenses. Think turning your finished basement or mother-in-law quarters into an AirBnB! Or consider purchasing a multi-unit duplex or triplex: live on one side and rent out the other! If your home making money while you’re living in it doesn’t sound like your thing, there’s always renting it out after you PCS as an income generating investment property.
5. Pets Are Welcome!
For those who choose to rent instead of buying, it can be extremely difficult to find rentals who allow for your
four-legged, furry friends. Landlords often require hefty pet deposits or place heavy restrictions on the number of pets and breeds they allow—if they will even allow pets. When considering quality of life, including beloved pets and the indoor and outdoor space available to them matters. Having the flexibility to include ALL members of your family as a homeowner is priceless!
6. Pride of Ownership
One of the greatest benefits of owning your own home is the pride of ownership that comes along with it. Not only are homeowners more inclined to take good care of their investment with routine maintenance and cleaning, but also they are free to make design choices ranging from hanging artwork on the walls, to paint colors, to customization of closets, electronics, and more. As military families who relocate frequently, having your home reflect who you really are feels important.
7. Safe and Stable Long Term Investment + Forced Savings
Owning a home has historically been one of the safest, lowest risk financial investments that tends to have long-term stability and success. As your home value appreciates and your mortgage balance decreases, what’s left is growing equity with an eventual paid off home. Making a monthly house payment is akin to setting aside a specific amount each month into a savings account—it’s a little difficult to access in the moment, but over time it can build into something significant in the form of equity.
FIVE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU IN YOUR RELOCATION PROCESS
Your PCS is underway!
The home buying and moving transition process has begun. Now what? If it feels like there are a million things to do, don’t fret because you don’t have to do them all yourself. During the relocation process, there are many service providers that can assist you in making your move a smooth one.
Consider these five resources to help you in the process
1. MOVING COMPANIES
Sure, the military offers transportation and relocation services, but many service members decide to coordinate the transfer of household goods themselves. Not only can you often earn money on the difference between moving costs and weight allowances, but you can be assured that you have more control over your belongings. Services that moving companies offer can range from delivery of boxes and pods for the “you-pack” model all the way to full-service logistics companies that will do all of the packing, loading, driving, and unpacking for you.
2. STORAGE
Whether you need to store your household goods for a few weeks until you close on your home or you decide that you have more stuff than square footage, storage companies abound. Sizes, conditions, and contracts vary widely so be sure to do your homework before you commit. Particularly in climates with extreme cold, heat, or humidity, it is important to consider using only climate-controlled storage to ensure the protection of your furniture and temporarily unused items.
3. TEMPORARY HOUSING
It is not uncommon for there to be a short gap of time during a military move between when you arrive at your new duty station and your new home being available to inhabit. No longer are hotels the only option for sticking out a few days or weeks during the wait. Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO) and Airbnb are great options to make you feel more at home while you wait for your home. In fact, why not take advantage of seeing your new city through the eyes of a tourist? Find a location near new local attractions and dining and enjoy a few days of getting to know the lay of the land.
4. USPS/IRS
Once you get settled in at your new home, it’s important that you alert agencies that will make sure your current and up-to-date address is on file. The United States Postal Service (USPS) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are two of the most important and by doing so, any important mail or documents in your name should be forwarded or sent along to your new address. It’s also a good idea to notify banks, credit card companies, and other debt collectors of a change of address. These days nearly all of these transactions can be handled online.
5. DISCARD & DONATE SERVICES
No matter how much you purge, toss, organize, minimize, or donate before you pack up the moving truck, it never fails that after you get unpacked on the other side there seems to be more stuff to declutter. Discard and donate services can help with this. Many are a phone call away and will happily come to your residence for a pickup. Others are structured where you simply drop off at a store. A lot of these services are charitable organizations and will offer you documentation for your own taxes based on your donation. It’s a win-win: you downsize by donating, and someone else benefits from your use of your items.
