What it's like to live in Moses Lake
Moses Lake is a small city in Washington with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Moses Lake deals with unemployment above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Low college degree attainment
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Moses Lake compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Moses Lake
Based on Moses Lake's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,432
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,640 a year
- 48% of Moses Lake renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,000
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 14% below US
$1,216/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,216 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $310,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $310,000 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 51% above US
6.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 6.5%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 15% above US
380 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2642/100k · Moses Lake Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 30% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 41% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (41 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Moses Lake's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and college degree attainment below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,216/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Moses Lake
All Washington guides →Moving to East Wenatchee →
51 mi away · pop. 14,199
Rent $1,327/mo · Income $77,558
Compare with Moses Lake →Moving to Wenatchee →
54 mi away · pop. 35,484
Rent $1,248/mo · Income $73,040
Compare with Moses Lake →Moving to West Richland →
57 mi away · pop. 17,586
Rent $1,590/mo · Income $119,892
Compare with Moses Lake →Moving to Richland →
58 mi away · pop. 62,753
Rent $1,468/mo · Income $95,813
Compare with Moses Lake →Not sure Moses Lake is the one?
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