Moses Lake, WA

Census place 5347245 · pop 26,083

D−50/ 100
🫤 Rough
D
in WA
📍 Washington ranks #24 of 50 states →
🏆 Air26 AQI · top 4%
🚽 Jobs6.9% · bottom 2%
Taxes
0.82% 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-level6.9%2

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

6.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults14.6%19

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

14.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Bachelor's degree or higher21.4%26

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

21.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poverty rate15.8%31

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

15.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult obesity37.3%35

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

37.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poor mental health18.0%36

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

18.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Broadband access90.3%40

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

90.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership61.2%42

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

61.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Housing cost$310,00045

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

$310,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Median household income$74,75250

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

$74,752 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4355

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Physical inactivity23.2%60

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

23.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property-tax burden0.82%62

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.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level81/10062

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

81/100 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.

Adult smoking11.8%65

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

11.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Rent$1,449/mo72

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

$1,449/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

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.

Commute time18 min85

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

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

Population growth (5yr)+13.1%86

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

+13.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Air quality (AQI)County-level26 AQI96

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

26 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 Moses Lake: 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 Moses Lake, WA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Moses Lake scores 50/100 — 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 Moses Lake, WA expensive to live in?
Moses Lake has a median home value of $310,000 and typical rent around $1,449/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Moses Lake, WA?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (6.9%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Moses Lake, WA best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (26 AQI) — 96/100, 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.