Kelso city, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

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

As of 2026, Kelso city, Washington has a total population of 12,697, the 104th largest city in Washington, with a median household income of $59,462, which is 37% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.5%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 37% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.

Kelso city Quick Facts

Population 12,697

Median Household Income $59,462

Median Home Value $302,300

Poverty Rate 19.5%

Unemployment Rate 5.0%

Median Age 38.4 years

Homeownership Rate 54.8%

Affordability Ratio 5.1x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 11.8%

High School Graduation Rate 88.7%

Diversity Index 34/100

Population 12,697 104th of 631

Median Income $59,462 bottom 30%

Poverty Rate 19.5% 56% higher national

Median Home Value $302,300 below average

How Kelso city Compares

Median Household Income

Kelso city

$59,462

$94,952

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Kelso city

$302,300

$519,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.9%

$25K-$50K 26.5%

$50K-$100K 36.8%

$100K+ 20.9%

Employment

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

56.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 54.8%

Renter 45.2%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.2%

18-34

26.0%

35-54

23.5%

55-74

22.7%

75+

7.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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

State average: 55 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Kelso city Rankings in Washington

#104 Population of 631

#461 Median Income of 631

#533 Education of 631

#397 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 Kelso city

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Sedro-Woolley city	12,633	$72,140	$390,200	17.1%	14.7%
Cheney city	12,830	$47,039	$330,300	36.8%	34.6%
Fort Lewis CDP	13,983	$54,902	N/A	22.5%	16.4%
Grandview city	11,042	$59,875	$232,500	6.6%	19.0%
Shelton city	10,619	$60,589	$296,100	18.8%	23.4%

Population Overview

Kelso city is a small city located in Washington. The total population is 12,697. It ranks as the 104th most populous out of 631 cities and towns in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kelso city is 38.4 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kelso city is $59,462. This is 37% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.5%. This is 96% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. The median home value is $302,300. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 54.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kelso city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.7%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

11.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% 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 88.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kelso 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 Kelso city, Washington?

Kelso city, Washington has a population of 12,697 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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

The median household income in Kelso city is $59,462, which is 24% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Kelso city, WA?

The poverty rate in Kelso city is 19.5%. This means approximately 2,452 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Kelso city, Washington?

Kelso city's population is 80.0% White, 1.6% Black, 10.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.8% Asian.

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

The median home value in Kelso city is $302,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x.

How educated is Kelso city, Washington?

11.8% of adults (25+) in Kelso city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.