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Fords Prairie, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Fords Prairie, Washington had a total population of 1,823, the 322nd largest community in Washington, with a median household income of $55,608, which is 43% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Fords Prairie Quick Facts

Population 1,823
Median Household Income $55,608
Median Home Value $368,000
Poverty Rate 15.7%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 47.2 years
Homeownership Rate 79.4%
Affordability Ratio 6.6x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.2%
High School Graduation Rate 92.8%
Diversity Index 35/100
Population 1,823 322nd of 628
Median Income $55,608 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 15.7% 26% higher than national
Median Home Value $368,000 below average

How Fords Prairie Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,7621,823+3.5%
Median household income$55,556$55,608+0.1%
Median home value$297,400$368,000+23.7%

How Fords Prairie Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.5%
$25K-$50K 17.4%
$50K-$100K 30.6%
$100K+ 23.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
25.0%
$10K-$15K
3.5%
$15K-$20K
0.0%
$20K-$25K
0.0%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
8.5%
$35K-$40K
4.4%
$40K-$45K
0.0%
$45K-$50K
0.0%
$50K-$60K
16.9%
$60K-$75K
7.6%
$75K-$100K
6.0%
$100K-$125K
13.2%
$125K-$150K
2.2%
$150K-$200K
2.1%
$200K+
6.0%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
54.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.4%
Renter 20.6%
Affordability Index Expensive
6.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,161/mo 25.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

35out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Fords Prairie Rankings in Washington

#322 Population of 628
#500 Median Income of 570
#424 Education of 628
#377 Home Value of 584

Other Cities in Lewis County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Centralia 18,830 $56,219 19.6% $318,200
Chehalis 7,587 $73,702 15.0% $372,900
Napavine 2,158 $104,148 6.0% $419,100
Winlock 2,140 $80,451 14.9% $361,700
Morton 1,206 $57,813 13.7% $300,900
Mossyrock 875 $53,333 25.3% $280,400
Onalaska 848 N/A 11.9% $423,700
Vader 745 $64,688 18.8% $317,200
Toledo 542 $47,292 14.8% $333,700
Pe Ell 538 $62,679 11.9% $321,800

Cities Similar to Fords Prairie

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Ritzville1,855$56,442$227,00026.8%14.0%
Long Beach1,792$53,032$362,70022.9%13.1%
Bridgeport1,792$52,375$177,0005.8%11.9%
Cle Elum1,905$63,973$451,00018.9%9.8%
Royal City1,683$50,478$228,60011.7%35.8%

Population Overview

Fords Prairie is a small community located in Washington, within Lewis County. The total population is 1,823. It ranks as the 322nd most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fords Prairie is 47.2 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 38.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fords Prairie is $55,608. This is 43% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $368,000. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fords Prairie is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.0%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.9%. The Asian population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 9.7%.

Education

19.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 92.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fords Prairie, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Fords Prairie, Washington?

Fords Prairie, Washington has a population of 1,823 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Fords Prairie, WA?

The median household income in Fords Prairie is $55,608, which is 31% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Fords Prairie, WA?

The poverty rate in Fords Prairie is 15.7%. This means approximately 285 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Fords Prairie, Washington?

Fords Prairie's population is 79.5% White, 1.1% Black, 9.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Fords Prairie, WA?

The median home value in Fords Prairie is $368,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.6x.

How educated is Fords Prairie, Washington?

19.2% of adults (25+) in Fords Prairie hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.