East Cathlamet, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 934, East Cathlamet's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

East Cathlamet is a small community located in Washington, within Wahkiakum County. The total population is 934. It ranks as the 400th most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in East Cathlamet is 49.4 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 38.3 years. 18.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in East Cathlamet is $101,221. This is 3% higher than the state median of $98,141. It is also 25% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.8%. This is 130% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $400,000. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 97.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 53% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

East Cathlamet has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.9%.

Education

16.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for East Cathlamet, Washington is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Washington state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 628 Census-designated places in Washington. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.