Wenatchee, WA
Census place 5377105 · pop 35,484
Self-proclaimed "Apple Capital of the World," sitting at the heart of Washington's apple country.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).
The breakdown — worst first
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
53.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
13.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$433,700 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 1 days · worse than most cities
5 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 90.0% · worse than most cities
90.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
28.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$73,040 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,766/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
87/100 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% · better than most cities
10.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
21.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.73% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
29.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
28 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 Wenatchee: 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 Wenatchee, WA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Wenatchee scores 48/100 — 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 Wenatchee, WA expensive to live in?
- Wenatchee has a median home value of $433,700 and typical rent around $1,766/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Wenatchee, WA?
- Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (5.2%) — 10/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Wenatchee, WA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (28 AQI) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Self-proclaimed "Apple Capital of the World," sitting at the heart of Washington's apple country.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.