Chehalis, WA

Census place 5311475 · pop 7,587

D−45/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in WA
📍 Washington ranks #24 of 50 states →
🏆 Air22 AQI · top 2%
🚽 Jobs5.9% · bottom 4%
Taxes
0.70% property · US 0.99%9.51% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).

The breakdown — worst first

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.9%4

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

5.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership52.8%20

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

52.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health19.0%22

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Broadband access88.3%27

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult obesity38.1%30

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

38.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Housing cost$372,90034

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$372,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Poverty rate15.0%34

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

15.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)+1.2%38

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Natural disaster riskCounty-level92/10042

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher27.3%43

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

27.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking13.8%45

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults9.9%46

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

9.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Median household income$73,70249

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$73,702 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Commute time23 min57

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity21.3%71

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

21.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property-tax burden0.70%73

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.70% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Rent$1,405/mo75

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,405/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Income inequality0.4077

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Air quality (AQI)County-level22 AQI98

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

22 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Chehalis: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Chehalis, WA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Chehalis scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is unemployment rate. Washington overall ranks #24 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Chehalis, WA expensive to live in?
Chehalis has a median home value of $372,900 and typical rent around $1,405/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Chehalis, WA?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (5.9%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Chehalis, WA best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (22 AQI) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.