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CITY

Cheney

Washington · 12,650 residents (2025 est.) · 4.342 sq mi
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#133Youngest by median ageof 6,82624.4
The short version

Cheney has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,503. Population has grown 45% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $395,900. At a median age of 24.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 31.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 44% less than the Washington median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 24.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 92%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,804
+45%since 2000
from 8,832 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,949 / sq mi
+45%since 2000
from 2,034 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
24.4
+8%since 2000
from 22.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,650 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K9K10K12K14K1990201020202024Cheney
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,503
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,593 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,586
+127%since 2000
from $12,566 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.5%
+22.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
31.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 30.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.498
−4%since 2010
from 0.520 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$395,900
+92%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,156
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
34.7%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 37.6% in 2000
65.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.0%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.9%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.5%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.3
+45%since 2000
from 5.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cheney on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.1%(7,335)
Black2%(181)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(384)
Asian6.3%(553)
Other0%
Diversity Score30%(2,652)
2024
White, non-Hispanic74.4%(9,523)
Black1.1%(135)
Hispanic / Latino10.7%(1,369)
Asian3.5%(447)
Other10.4%(1,330)
Diversity Score52.9%(6,775)
Diversity Score
53
+76%since 2000
from 30 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.0%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 42.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 95.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.4 min
+57%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.8%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.4%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.4%
+5.3 ptssince 2011
from 60.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.7%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.9%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
Female
53.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
Foreign born
5.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−39.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.0%
+5.5 ptssince 2012
from 6.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+7.9 ptssince 2017
from 83.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 89.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 6.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Cheney to nearby cities

CHENEY VS
Airway Heights
Income$62,874+15%
Home value$348,500−12%
Population11,811−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHENEY VS
Spokane
Income$70,064+29%
Home value$363,500−8%
Population230,783+1724%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHENEY VS
Spokane Valley
Income$74,042+36%
Home value$382,300−3%
Population108,405+757%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHENEY VS
Fairwood CDP (Spokane County)
Income$91,988+69%
Home value$469,100+18%
Population10,674−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cheney, Washington?

Cheney, Washington has about 12,804 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cheney, Washington?

The typical household in Cheney, Washington earns about $54,503 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cheney, Washington expensive?

In Cheney, Washington, the median home is worth about $395,900, and the typical rent is about $1,156 a month.

How educated are people in Cheney, Washington?

About 38.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cheney, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cheney, Washington?

About 31.3% of people in Cheney, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cheney, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Cheney, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,081 residents, a change of about 66 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →