Kelso, WA
Census place 5335065 · pop 12,684
Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
21.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
12.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
42.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.2% 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 67.2% · worse than most cities
56.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
10.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$66,751 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$337,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
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.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
12.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
91.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
23.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.87% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+4.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,533/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
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 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.38 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
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 Kelso: 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 Kelso, WA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Kelso scores 44/100 — 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 poor mental health. 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 Kelso, WA expensive to live in?
- Kelso has a median home value of $337,600 and typical rent around $1,533/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Kelso, WA?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (21.1%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Kelso, 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.