Silverdale is the default close-to-base answer for NB Kitsap — the commercial heart of central Kitsap, about six miles south of the Bangor submarine base, wrapped in newer subdivisions and anchored by Kitsap Mall and the region's big-box corridor. It's unincorporated (a CDP), and it's the most amenity-rich spot on the peninsula: shopping, restaurants, medical, and the Central Kitsap schools.
The honest trade is character. Silverdale is comfortable suburban retail, not a walkable historic town — if you want waterfront charm, Poulsbo or Port Orchard have more of it. But for convenience and a short commute to either Kitsap base, Silverdale is hard to beat.
Where it fits in the commute
Silverdale sits between Bangor and Bremerton — a short drive north to Bangor, a moderate drive south to Bremerton/PSNS. It's the one area that's genuinely central to both Kitsap bases, which is a big part of its appeal for Navy families. (It's across Puget Sound from Everett — a ferry, not a commute.)
Neighborhoods
- Silverdale (CDP) — The core: subdivisions around the Kitsap Mall / Ridgetop area, the most convenient to shopping and Bangor.
- Old Town Silverdale — The small original waterfront on Dyes Inlet — a more historic pocket with a waterfront park.
- Chico — A quieter wooded area just southwest toward Bremerton — more space, an easy commute either direction.
What to verify before you sign
- The commute, driven — short to Bangor, a bit longer to Bremerton; time your real route.
- The Central Kitsap feeder at GreatSchools.
- Rent vs BAH — run the numbers in the BAH Budget tool; Washington has no state income tax.