United States › Washington › Cheney CITY
Cheney Washington · 12,650 residents (2025 est.) · 4.34 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 12,804 people, Cheney is a city in Washington. The median age is 24.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. Owners hold 35% of the housing stock. 31.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. People stay put here: 69% were in the same home a year ago. The population is up 45% since 2000.
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 from 8,832 in 2000
12,650 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,949 / sq mi
+23%since 2009
from 2,407 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 22.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 9K 10K 12K 14K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Cheney Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $54,503
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,593 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,566 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 30.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.520 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4.7%
Public administration 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.2%
Education & health services 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.6%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$395,900
+92%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,156
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 37.6% in 2000
65.3% rent
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 6.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 83.1%(7,335)
Hispanic / Latino 4.3%(384)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 74.4%(9,523)
Hispanic / Latino 10.7%(1,369)
from 47 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 42.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 95.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 60.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 71.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 6.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 83.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 95.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 59.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 89.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 60.3%(3,227)
Women 15+
Never married 58.6%(3,442)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 61.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 20.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 76.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 29.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 41.2%(275)
Gulf War (1990s) 37.9%(253)
Share of the 668 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Cheney Head to head
Compare Cheney to nearby cities CHENEY VS
Airway Heights
Income $62,874 +15%
Home value $348,500 −12%
Population 11,811 −7%
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CHENEY VS
Spokane
Income $70,064 +29%
Home value $363,500 −8%
Population 230,783 +1724%
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CHENEY VS
Spokane Valley
Income $74,042 +36%
Home value $382,300 −3%
Population 108,405 +757%
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CHENEY VS
Fairwood CDP (Spokane County)
Income $91,988 +69%
Home value $469,100 +18%
Population 10,674 −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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