Shelton, WA

Census place 5363735 · pop 10,612

D−42/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in WA
📍 Washington ranks #24 of 50 states →
🏆 Air21 AQI · top 2%
🚽 Jobs5.5% · bottom 7%
Taxes
0.89% 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-level5.5%7

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

5.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health20.1%10

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

20.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Bachelor's degree or higher18.1%17

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

18.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Uninsured adults14.2%20

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

14.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult smoking16.2%24

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

16.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate17.4%25

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

17.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult obesity38.7%26

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

38.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Housing cost$345,70038

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

$345,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Commute time25 min41

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

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

Physical inactivity26.3%43

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

26.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Median household income$69,59843

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

$69,598 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Homeownership62.0%45

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

62.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property-tax burden0.89%56

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

0.89% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level85/10058

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

85/100 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.

Population growth (5yr)+4.4%60

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

+4.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Rent$1,529/mo67

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

$1,529/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Income inequality0.4169

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Broadband access93.9%69

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

93.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

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.

Air quality (AQI)County-level21 AQI98

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

21 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 Shelton: 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 Shelton, WA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Shelton scores 42/100 — 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 Shelton, WA expensive to live in?
Shelton has a median home value of $345,700 and typical rent around $1,529/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Shelton, WA?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (5.5%) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Shelton, WA best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (21 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.