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Living in
Walla Walla.
About
Life in Walla Walla
If you're considering moving to Walla Walla, expect a quiet regional city with genuine small-town character but enough economic activity to support a real job market. The wine industry has genuinely transformed this place—it's not just tourism, though that's part of it now. The median household income of around $66,748 and home values near $394,000 are reasonable for the Pacific Northwest, though rent is climbing at $1,323 a month.
Walla Walla at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Foreign-Born
9.2%
Broadband Internet
85.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Walla Walla: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Walla Walla, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (56.5%), and 18.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.6%
of households
Married Couples
39.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
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 25% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Walla Walla
In Walla Walla, rent runs 25% below the WA average, and home values are 30% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,183
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $414,086 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Walla Walla
Unemployment in Walla Walla is 0.4 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 Walla Walla Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute12.8 min avg
How Walla Walla residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Walla Walla, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 91% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW)
Regional airport · few flights39k 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 22% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Walla Walla runs 22% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
402.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,635.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Walla Walla Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Walla Walla County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Walla Walla County, which includes Walla Walla, the most common type is heavy snow, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 14 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 9 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 17 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2021 | 16 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 14 | Heavy Snow | $8.8M |
| 2019 | 14 | Heavy Snow | $150,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Wildfire | 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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Walla Walla County, county-wide
Air Quality28 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Walla Walla County, which includes Walla Walla, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
28
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
70
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Walla Walla County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Walla Walla has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"
Hot Days/Year
43
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
70
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 31°F | 2.10" |
| Feb | 47°F | 33°F | 1.59" |
| Mar | 56°F | 38°F | 2.11" |
| Apr | 63°F | 43°F | 1.98" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 2.07" |
| Jun | 79°F | 55°F | 1.24" |
| Jul | 90°F | 62°F | 0.47" |
| Aug | 89°F | 62°F | 0.40" |
| Sep | 79°F | 54°F | 0.64" |
| Oct | 63°F | 44°F | 1.66" |
| Nov | 49°F | 36°F | 2.25" |
| Dec | 41°F | 30°F | 2.23" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Walla Walla
Walla Walla has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Providence St Mary Medical Center
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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Walla Walla
Walla Walla's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Walla Walla
Public · 2-year · 2,418 students · in-state tuition $5,442 · 53% graduate · median earnings $48,220 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,531 students · in-state tuition $66,610 · 87% graduate · median earnings $70,813 (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: Whitman Mission National Historic Site, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Walla Walla
Walla Walla has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Whitman Mission National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayIce Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
47 mi awayPublic Libraries in Walla Walla
Walla Walla Public Library
238 E. Alder Street, Walla Walla
Cities Near Walla Walla
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Walla Walla?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Walla Walla FAQ
Is Walla Walla, Washington affordable?⌄
Walla Walla's median rent is $1,323/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $66,748/year. Median home value is $393,600.
Is Walla Walla, Washington safe?⌄
Walla Walla's violent crime rate was 402 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1636 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Walla Walla, Washington?⌄
Walla Walla has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Walla Walla, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Walla Walla is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,323/month and median household income is $66,748/year. The median home value is $393,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Walla Walla, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Walla Walla is 13 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