Skip to main content

Selah, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Selah, Washington had a total population of 8,437, the 149th largest city in Washington, with a median household income of $74,783, which is 24% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.9%.

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

Selah Quick Facts

Population 8,437
Median Household Income $74,783
Median Home Value $414,600
Poverty Rate 13.9%
Unemployment Rate 4.4%
Median Age 33.0 years
Homeownership Rate 59.4%
Affordability Ratio 5.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.5%
High School Graduation Rate 85.5%
Diversity Index 54/100
Population 8,437 149th of 628
Median Income $74,783 below average
Poverty Rate 13.9% 11% higher than national
Median Home Value $414,600 average

How Selah 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
Population8,3018,437+1.6%
Median household income$74,757$74,783+0.0%
Median home value$366,100$414,600+13.2%

How Selah Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 9.6%
$25K-$50K 14.2%
$50K-$100K 38.9%
$100K+ 37.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.3%
$10K-$15K
4.4%
$15K-$20K
0.7%
$20K-$25K
1.2%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
2.6%
$35K-$40K
5.2%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
0.5%
$50K-$60K
8.0%
$60K-$75K
18.8%
$75K-$100K
12.1%
$100K-$125K
10.3%
$125K-$150K
7.5%
$150K-$200K
10.7%
$200K+
8.8%

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
62.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 59.4%
Renter 40.6%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,539/mo 24.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Selah Rankings in Washington

#149 Population of 628
#372 Median Income of 570
#320 Education of 628
#328 Home Value of 584

Other Cities in Yakima County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Yakima 96,961 $62,815 16.6% $297,600
Sunnyside 16,277 $60,923 18.5% $240,700
Grandview 11,187 $61,106 17.9% $265,300
Terrace Heights 10,041 $83,016 14.4% $377,300
Toppenish 8,723 $67,854 18.0% $230,000
Union Gap 6,584 $59,651 13.8% $210,600
Moxee 4,625 $100,512 7.8% $362,800
Wapato 4,538 $52,019 24.5% $185,100
Ahtanum 3,777 $96,149 2.6% $337,500
Granger 3,705 $66,250 23.3% $210,200

Cities Similar to Selah

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Ephrata8,560$69,551$252,00016.8%20.8%
Toppenish8,723$67,854$230,0009.5%18.0%
Stanwood8,373$90,242$593,10024.3%8.0%
Othello8,795$65,849$290,70011.8%24.1%
Chehalis7,587$73,702$372,90027.3%15.0%

Population Overview

Selah is a small city located in Washington, within Yakima County. The total population is 8,437. It ranks as the 149th most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Selah is 33.0 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 38.3 years. With 28.1% of the population under 18, Selah has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Selah is $74,783. This is 24% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $414,600. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x. 59.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Selah is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.5%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (28.5% vs 14.4%). The Asian population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 9.7%.

Education

25.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 85.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Selah, 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.

Free data download: Get all Washington city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Selah, Washington?

Selah, Washington has a population of 8,437 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Selah, WA?

The median household income in Selah is $74,783, which is 7% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Selah, WA?

The poverty rate in Selah is 13.9%. This means approximately 1,145 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Selah, Washington?

Selah's population is 61.5% White, 0.3% Black, 28.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Selah, WA?

The median home value in Selah is $414,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x.

How educated is Selah, Washington?

25.5% of adults (25+) in Selah hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.