What it's like to live in Enumclaw
Enumclaw is a small city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Enumclaw deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Enumclaw compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Enumclaw
Based on Enumclaw's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,908
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $78,160 a year
- 47% of Enumclaw renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$104,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $52,460
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 38% above US
$1,954/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,954 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $524,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $524,600 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in King County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
King County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 84% below US
53 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1262/100k · Enumclaw Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 27% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 74°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 24% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mount Rainier National Park (27 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Enumclaw's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,954/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Enumclaw
All Washington guides →Moving to Bonney Lake →
9 mi away · pop. 22,090
Rent $2,256/mo · Income $136,845
Compare with Enumclaw →Moving to Prairie Ridge →
9 mi away · pop. 12,074
Rent $1,965/mo · Income $114,356
Compare with Enumclaw →Not sure Enumclaw is the one?
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