Steptoe, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 162, Steptoe'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

Steptoe is a small community located in Washington, within Whitman County. The total population is 162. It ranks as the 572nd most populous out of 628 Census-designated places in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Steptoe is 41.5 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.3 years. 12.3% 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 Steptoe is $51,136. This is 48% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.5%. This is 75% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Steptoe, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $251,900. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 73.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Steptoe is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.8%) is well below the state average of 14.4%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 9.7%.

Education

11.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% 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 96.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Steptoe, 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.