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Living in
Centralia.
About
Life in Centralia
This working city of about 18,500 sits right on Interstate 5 between Seattle and Portland, which means you're genuinely positioned for regional access without the cost and congestion of either major metro. Centralia's real story is one of economic reinvention—it was built on railroads and timber, then coal, and when those industries collapsed (the mine shut down in 2006 and the coal power plant is closing in 2025), the town didn't disappear; it diversified. Today the economy runs on freight, warehousing, outlet shopping, and freeway commerce, with the Port of Centralia employing around 800 people across 30 tenants.
Centralia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Foreign-Born
9.8%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
+5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Centralia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Centralia, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (51.9%), and 14.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
20.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
34.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 38% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Centralia
In Centralia, rent runs 38% below the WA average, and home values are 44% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,146
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $386,885 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above WA average
Unemployment in Centralia
Unemployment in Lewis County, which includes Centralia, is 0.9 percentage points higher than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Centralia: Lewis County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lewis County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Centralia Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.6 min avg
How Centralia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Centralia, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 59 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Centralia runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
286
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,454.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Centralia Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 3 events in 2021
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lewis County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lewis County, which includes Centralia, the most common type is flood, with 3 recorded events in 2021.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | Flood | $3.4M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
20 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lewis County, county-wide
Air Quality20 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lewis County, which includes Centralia, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
20
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
28
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lewis County, county-wide
Climate76°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Centralia has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.6"
Annual Snowfall
3.7"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
48
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
172
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 34°F | 5.85" |
| Feb | 50°F | 34°F | 4.24" |
| Mar | 54°F | 36°F | 4.39" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.24" |
| May | 67°F | 44°F | 2.44" |
| Jun | 71°F | 49°F | 1.53" |
| Jul | 78°F | 53°F | 0.50" |
| Aug | 78°F | 53°F | 0.84" |
| Sep | 73°F | 48°F | 1.59" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 4.00" |
| Nov | 51°F | 37°F | 6.53" |
| Dec | 45°F | 34°F | 6.44" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Centralia
Centralia has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Providence Centralia Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Centralia
Centralia's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Centralia
Public · 2-year · 1,552 students · in-state tuition $5,452 · 51% graduate · median earnings $45,534 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Centralia
Centralia has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
61 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
68 mi awayFort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
77 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Centralia
Centralia Timberland Library
110 S Silver St, Centralia
Cities Near Centralia
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Centralia?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Centralia FAQ
Is Centralia, Washington affordable?⌄
Centralia's median rent is $1,084/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,219/year. Median home value is $318,200.
Is Centralia, Washington safe?⌄
Centralia's violent crime rate was 286 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2454 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Centralia, Washington?⌄
Lewis County, which includes Centralia, has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Centralia, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Centralia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,084/month and median household income is $56,219/year. The median home value is $318,200. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Centralia, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Centralia is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from