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Living in
Pullman.
About
Life in Pullman
Living in Pullman means being part of a college town where Washington State University genuinely shapes daily life—not just culturally but economically. The university drives most of the job market, though Schweitzer Engineering Labs and other tech companies at the industrial park offer alternatives if you're not looking to work for WSU. You'll find a college-educated population (over 62% hold degrees), which affects the tone of the community but also means the local job market can be competitive.
Pullman at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
23.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
30.4%
Foreign-Born
9.8%
Broadband Internet
85.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.8% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Pullman: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pullman, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (18.6%), and 3.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
12.3%
of residents
65 and Older
6.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.2%
of households
Married Couples
29.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.07
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 40% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Pullman
In Pullman, rent runs 40% below the WA average, and home values are 25% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
40.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,350
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
32.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $427,661 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Pullman
Unemployment in Pullman is 0.8 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Pullman Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.6 min avg
How Pullman residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pullman, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW)
Regional airport · few flights74k 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 53% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pullman runs 53% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
156.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
782.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pullman Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
39.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Whitman County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Whitman County, which includes Pullman, the most common type is heavy snow, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | High Wind | $19,500 |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,500 |
| 2023 | 7 | Wildfire | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 16 | Hail | $175,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Dust Storm | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Heavy Snow | $1.1M |
| 2018 | 4 | Heavy Snow | $20,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Whitman County, county-wide
Air Quality23 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Whitman County, which includes Pullman, is typically good — 317 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
23
Good Days
317
per year
Moderate Days
48
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Whitman County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pullman has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/49°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.4"
Annual Snowfall
32.7"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
127
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 26°F | 2.67" |
| Feb | 42°F | 27°F | 1.94" |
| Mar | 50°F | 31°F | 2.05" |
| Apr | 57°F | 35°F | 1.96" |
| May | 66°F | 42°F | 1.81" |
| Jun | 73°F | 46°F | 1.22" |
| Jul | 84°F | 50°F | 0.44" |
| Aug | 85°F | 50°F | 0.48" |
| Sep | 76°F | 44°F | 0.65" |
| Oct | 61°F | 36°F | 1.80" |
| Nov | 46°F | 31°F | 2.62" |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.77" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pullman
Pullman has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Pullman Regional Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Gritman Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Moscow
Whitman Hospital and Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · Colfax
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.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pullman
Pullman's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 61.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
61.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Pullman
Public · 4-year · 21,099 students · in-state tuition $13,888 · 66% graduate · median earnings $72,280 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 7,747 students · in-state tuition $9,400 · 62% graduate · median earnings $58,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 305 students · in-state tuition $18,000 · 69% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Nez Perce National Historical Park, 77 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pullman
Pullman has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Nez Perce National Historical Park (77 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Nez Perce National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayWhitman Mission National Historic Site
National Historic Site
78 mi awayIce Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pullman
Pullman (Neill) Public Library
210 N Grand Avenue, Pullman
Cities Near Pullman
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pullman?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pullman FAQ
Is Pullman, Washington affordable?⌄
Pullman's median rent is $1,062/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,812/year. Median home value is $424,800.
Is Pullman, Washington safe?⌄
Pullman's violent crime rate was 156 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 782 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pullman, Washington?⌄
Pullman has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pullman, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Pullman is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,062/month and median household income is $46,812/year. The median home value is $424,800. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pullman, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Pullman is 15 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