Ellensburg, WA
Census place 5321240 · pop 20,874
Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
32.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
22.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$55,438 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$404,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,700/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
33.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
84/100 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.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.82% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
41.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
10.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
19.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 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.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
18 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
23 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 Ellensburg: 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 Ellensburg, WA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Ellensburg scores 47/100 — 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 homeownership. 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 Ellensburg, WA expensive to live in?
- Ellensburg has a median home value of $404,100 and typical rent around $1,700/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Ellensburg, WA?
- Its weakest measured area is homeownership (32.9%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Ellensburg, WA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (23 AQI) — 97/100, 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.