Centralia city, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Centralia city, Washington Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Centralia city, Washington has a total population of 18,457, the 78th largest city in Washington, with a median household income of $52,387, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.9%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.

Centralia city Quick Facts

Population 18,457

Median Household Income $52,387

Median Home Value $267,600

Poverty Rate 19.9%

Unemployment Rate 4.8%

Median Age 37.8 years

Homeownership Rate 58.5%

Affordability Ratio 5.1x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 17.6%

High School Graduation Rate 86.6%

Diversity Index 43/100

Population 18,457 78th of 631

Median Income $52,387 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 19.9% 60% higher national

Median Home Value $267,600 bottom 30%

How Centralia city Compares

Median Household Income

Centralia city

$52,387

$94,952

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Centralia city

$267,600

$519,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.2%

$25K-$50K 24.5%

$50K-$100K 29.6%

$100K+ 22.7%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.0% | National: 5.2%

55.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 58.5%

Renter 41.5%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.9%

18-34

26.5%

35-54

21.0%

55-74

23.2%

75+

8.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Centralia city Rankings in Washington

#78 Population of 631

#508 Median Income of 631

#451 Education of 631

#439 Home Value of 631

Explore Washington Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Centralia city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Ellensburg city	18,913	$49,888	$357,800	41.3%	21.0%
Aberdeen city	17,040	$52,181	$225,100	14.7%	22.2%
Sunnyside city	16,329	$53,350	$207,200	9.0%	17.4%
Port Angeles city	20,087	$61,640	$324,800	31.4%	10.9%
Fort Lewis CDP	13,983	$54,902	N/A	22.5%	16.4%

Population Overview

Centralia city is a small city located in Washington. The total population is 18,457. It ranks as the 78th most populous out of 631 cities and towns in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Centralia city is 37.8 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Centralia city is $52,387. This is 45% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 101% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $267,600. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 58.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Centralia city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.8%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

17.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Centralia city, Washington is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Washington state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 631 Census-designated places in Washington. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Centralia city, Washington?

Centralia city, Washington has a population of 18,457 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Centralia city, WA?

The median household income in Centralia city is $52,387, which is 33% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Centralia city, WA?

The poverty rate in Centralia city is 19.9%. This means approximately 3,592 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Centralia city, Washington?

Centralia city's population is 72.9% White, 1.1% Black, 19.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Centralia city, WA?

The median home value in Centralia city is $267,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x.

How educated is Centralia city, Washington?

17.6% of adults (25+) in Centralia city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.