Yakima County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Yakima County is located in Washington with a total population of 256,605. It is the 8th most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Yakima County is 33.2 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 38.2 years. With 29.3% of the population under 18, Yakima County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Yakima County is $68,015. This is 28% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.4%. This is 56% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $281,100. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 62.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Yakima County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 51.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 40.1%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (51.6% vs 14.1%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

18.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 76.3%.