Selah, WA

Census place 5363280 · pop 8,437

D−43/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in WA
📍 Washington ranks #24 of 50 states →
🏆 Commute17 min · top 11%
🚽 Jobs7.3% · bottom 2%
Taxes
0.68% 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-level7.3%2

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

7.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access86.1%16

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

86.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Poor mental health18.8%24

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

18.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level7 days28

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

7 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.

Housing cost$414,60028

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

$414,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Uninsured adults11.3%36

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

11.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity37.1%36

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

37.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Homeownership59.4%37

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

59.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level93/10038

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

93/100 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 higher25.5%39

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

25.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poverty rate13.9%39

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

13.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$74,78350

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

$74,783 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Rent$1,727/mo52

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

$1,727/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Income inequality0.4354

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).

Adult smoking12.5%58

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

12.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity21.7%69

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

21.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Population growth (5yr)+7.4%73

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

+7.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden0.68%75

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

0.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Air quality (AQI)County-level37 AQI81

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

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

Commute time17 min89

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

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

Not measured for Selah: 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 Selah, WA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Selah scores 43/100 — 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 commute time 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 Selah, WA expensive to live in?
Selah has a median home value of $414,600 and typical rent around $1,727/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Selah, WA?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (7.3%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Selah, WA best at?
Its strongest measured area is commute time (17 min) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities.

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