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Living in
Kelso.
About
Life in Kelso
Kelso is a community of 12,697 people in Washington. The median household income is $66,751, median rent runs about $1,220 per month, and median home values are around $337,600. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Kelso at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
4.6%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Kelso: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kelso, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.8%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.7%
of households
Married Couples
42.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
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 31% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Kelso
In Kelso, rent runs 31% below the WA average, and home values are 40% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,945
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $385,912 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above WA average
Unemployment in Kelso
Unemployment in Cowlitz County, which includes Kelso, is 0.6 percentage points higher than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Kelso: Cowlitz County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cowlitz County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Kelso Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.8 min avg
How Kelso residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kelso, most residents drive alone to work (85%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 41 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 94 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 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kelso runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
117.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,523
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kelso Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cowlitz County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cowlitz County, which includes Kelso, the most common type is heavy snow, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Heavy Snow | $44,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 2 | Flood | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 3 | Flood | $25,000 |
| 2021 | 3 | Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 1 | Flood | $250.0M |
| 2019 | 3 | Flood | None reported |
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.
13 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cowlitz County, county-wide
Air Quality22 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cowlitz County, which includes Kelso, is typically good.
Median AQI
22
Cowlitz County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kelso has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Annual Snowfall
2.3"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
41
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
192
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 35°F | 6.53" |
| Feb | 52°F | 35°F | 4.81" |
| Mar | 57°F | 38°F | 4.91" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 4.08" |
| May | 69°F | 45°F | 3.11" |
| Jun | 73°F | 50°F | 2.03" |
| Jul | 79°F | 53°F | 0.63" |
| Aug | 80°F | 53°F | 0.97" |
| Sep | 76°F | 50°F | 2.29" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 4.38" |
| Nov | 53°F | 39°F | 7.24" |
| Dec | 47°F | 35°F | 7.14" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kelso
Uninsured
9.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kelso's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Peacehealth St John Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Longview
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.
Education16.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kelso
Kelso's student/teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 12.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Kelso (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 1,932 students · in-state tuition $4,795 · 41% graduate · median earnings $45,498 (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: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kelso
Kelso has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kelso
Kelso Public Library
351 Three Rivers Drive, Suite 1263, Kelso
Cities Near Kelso
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kelso?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kelso FAQ
Is Kelso, Washington affordable?⌄
Kelso's median rent is $1,220/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,751/year. Median home value is $337,600.
Is Kelso, Washington safe?⌄
Kelso's violent crime rate was 118 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1523 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kelso, Washington?⌄
Cowlitz County, which includes Kelso, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kelso, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Kelso is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,220/month and median household income is $66,751/year. The median home value is $337,600. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kelso, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Kelso is 21 minutes, which is shorter than 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