Malden, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 100, Malden'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

Malden is a small community located in Washington, within Whitman County. The total population is 100. It ranks as the 599th most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Malden is 57.5 years. This is 50% higher than the state median of 38.3 years. 14.0% 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 Malden is $26,250. This is 73% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 67% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.0%. This is 142% 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 28.6%. This is 461% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $49,500. Housing costs are 91% lower than the state median of $564,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Malden is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 57% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Malden is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population.

Education

17.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 80.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Malden, 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.