Quilcene, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 362, Quilcene'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

Quilcene is a small community located in Washington, within Jefferson County. The total population is 362. It ranks as the 507th most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Quilcene is 62.4 years. This is 63% higher than the state median of 38.3 years. Only 6.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.5% 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 Quilcene is $34,464. This is 65% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 57% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.5%. This is 168% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Quilcene, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $274,300. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Quilcene has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.3% of all residents.

Education

13.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% 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 94.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Quilcene, 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.