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CITY

Cle Elum

Washington · 2,288 residents (2025 est.) · 4.492 sq mi
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The short version

Cle Elum has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,973. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $451,000. With a median age of 48.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 35% less than the Washington median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 150%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,905
+9%since 2000
from 1,755 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
424 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 391 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
48.0
+19%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,288 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Cle Elum
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,973
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,144 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,961
+146%since 2000
from $16,620 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.1%
+20.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.8%
−11.0 ptssince 2000
from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.384
−41%since 2010
from 0.649 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade21.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade8.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Information5.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$451,000
+150%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $98,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,295
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $434 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
37.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.3%
−16.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.7%
−17.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.0
+101%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
69
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cle Elum on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(1,631)
Black0.5%(9)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(59)
Asian0.5%(9)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.9%(191)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.3%(1,529)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(106)
Asian0%(0)
Other14.2%(270)
Diversity Score41.6%(792)
Diversity Score
42
+283%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.0%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+24%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.9%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.6%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.5%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.1%
−10.5 ptssince 2011
from 12.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 55.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.6%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.9%
+8.4 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−71.4 ptssince 2013
from 78.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.1%
+9.1 ptssince 2017
from 77.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 94.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2016
from 5.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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CLE ELUM VS
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CLE ELUM VS
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CLE ELUM VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cle Elum, Washington?

Cle Elum, Washington has about 1,905 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cle Elum, Washington?

The typical household in Cle Elum, Washington earns about $63,973 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cle Elum, Washington expensive?

In Cle Elum, Washington, the median home is worth about $451,000, and the typical rent is about $1,295 a month.

How educated are people in Cle Elum, Washington?

About 19.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cle Elum, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cle Elum, Washington?

About 9.8% of people in Cle Elum, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cle Elum, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Cle Elum, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 127 residents, a change of about 7 percent over that period.

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

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