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Yakima County, Washington Demographics 2026

Yakima County, Washington has a population of 257,152, the 8th most populous county in Washington. The median household income is $70,656 and the median home value is $310,100. The poverty rate is 15.5%.

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

Yakima County Quick Facts

Population 257,152
Median Household Income $70,656
Median Home Value $310,100
Poverty Rate 15.5%
Unemployment Rate 7.3%
Median Age 33.3 years
Homeownership Rate 61.9%
Affordability Ratio 4.4x
Bachelor's Degree+ 19.1%
High School Graduation 76.8%
Cities/Places 28
Population 257,152 8th of 39
Median Income $70,656 28% lower than state
Poverty Rate 15.5%
Unemployment 7.3%

How Yakima County 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
Population256,605257,152+0.2%
Median household income$68,015$70,656+3.9%
Median home value$281,100$310,100+10.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.5%
$25K-$50K 20.5%
$50K-$100K 32.7%
$100K+ 32.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.1%
$10K-$15K
3.9%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
3.8%
$25K-$30K
3.9%
$30K-$35K
3.7%
$35K-$40K
4.5%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
7.6%
$60K-$75K
10.5%
$75K-$100K
14.6%
$100K-$125K
11.4%
$125K-$150K
6.9%
$150K-$200K
7.7%
$200K+
6.3%

Employment

7.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
62.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.9%
Renter 38.1%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,109/mo 18.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

57out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Yakima County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Yakima96,961$62,81516.6%$297,600
Sunnyside16,277$60,92318.5%$240,700
Grandview11,187$61,10617.9%$265,300
Terrace Heights10,041$83,01614.4%$377,300
Toppenish8,723$67,85418.0%$230,000
Selah8,437$74,78313.9%$414,600
Union Gap6,584$59,65113.8%$210,600
Moxee4,625$100,5127.8%$362,800
Wapato4,538$52,01924.5%$185,100
Ahtanum3,777$96,1492.6%$337,500
Granger3,705$66,25023.3%$210,200
Zillah3,140$75,0006.5%$334,800
Gleed2,844$78,52913.6%$353,900
Mabton2,536$56,87527.8%$209,400
Summitview2,321$105,1845.6%$409,600
Tieton1,597$60,14418.0%$230,800
Naches1,059$54,28616.5%$271,700
Buena791$41,95320.2%$237,000
Harrah662$73,95813.5%$221,900
Tampico604$110,37510.3%$366,000
Outlook594$46,47537.4%$310,600
White Swan588$60,23440.6%$109,100
Cowiche364N/A28.6%$219,900
Nile349$105,1513.4%$431,900
Eschbach181$79,3750.0%$605,500
Cliffdell157$127,6950.6%N/A
Parker116N/A17.2%N/A
Donald110N/A0.0%N/A

Explore Washington Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Yakima County is located in Washington with a total population of 257,152. It is the 8th most populous county out of 39 in Washington. The county encompasses 28 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Yakima County is 33.3 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 38.3 years. With 28.9% 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 $70,656. This is 28% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.5%. This is 56% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $310,100. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 61.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Yakima County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 52.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 39.4%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (52.4% vs 14.4%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 9.7%.

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 76.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Yakima County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Washington and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Yakima County, Washington?

Yakima County has a population of 257,152, making it the 8th most populous county in Washington.

What is the median income in Yakima County?

The median household income in Yakima County is $70,656 with a poverty rate of 15.5%.

How many cities are in Yakima County, Washington?

Yakima County contains 28 Census-designated places.