Chelan County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Chelan County is located in Washington with a total population of 79,518. It is the 17th most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chelan County is 40.4 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chelan County is $78,306. This is 18% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 9% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $454,900. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.8x. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chelan County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.4%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (28.4% vs 14.1%). The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

30.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% 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 85.8%.