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CITY

Ellensburg

Washington · 21,308 residents (2025 est.) · 8.321 sq mi
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#149Youngest by median ageof 6,82625.0
The short version

Ellensburg has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,438. Population has grown 35% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $404,100. At a median age of 25.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 22.4% 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 25.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 100%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,874
+35%since 2000
from 15,414 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,509 / sq mi
+35%since 2000
from 1,852 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
25.0
+6%since 2000
from 23.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,308 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K14K17K19K22K1990201020202024Ellensburg
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,438
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,034 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,113
+128%since 2000
from $13,662 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.1%
+24.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.4%
−11.8 ptssince 2000
from 34.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
−9%since 2010
from 0.487 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$404,100
+100%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,340
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
32.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 34.6% in 2000
67.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.3
+32%since 2000
from 5.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
61
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ellensburg on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.1%(13,123)
Black1.1%(175)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(976)
Asian4%(617)
Other0%
Diversity Score27.2%(4,185)
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.8%(15,813)
Black2.1%(431)
Hispanic / Latino12.8%(2,674)
Asian2.6%(550)
Other6.7%(1,406)
Diversity Score50.5%(10,543)
Diversity Score
51
+86%since 2000
from 27 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.4%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 32.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.1%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.5 min
+44%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.7%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.2%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
8.9%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.7%
+8.9 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.4%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.1%
−30.9 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
52.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2012
from 10.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.3%
−78.5 ptssince 2013
from 84.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+8.5 ptssince 2017
from 82.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 87.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 6.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Ellensburg to nearby cities

ELLENSBURG VS
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Income$74,783+35%
Home value$414,600+3%
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SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLENSBURG VS
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Income$83,016+50%
Home value$377,300−7%
Population10,041−53%
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ELLENSBURG VS
Yakima
Income$62,815+13%
Home value$297,600−26%
Population97,458+357%
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ELLENSBURG VS
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Income$77,558+40%
Home value$429,200+6%
Population14,414−32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ellensburg, Washington?

Ellensburg, Washington has about 20,874 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ellensburg, Washington?

The typical household in Ellensburg, Washington earns about $55,438 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ellensburg, Washington expensive?

In Ellensburg, Washington, the median home is worth about $404,100, and the typical rent is about $1,340 a month.

How educated are people in Ellensburg, Washington?

About 41.4% of adults age 25 and over in Ellensburg, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ellensburg, Washington?

About 22.4% of people in Ellensburg, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ellensburg, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Ellensburg, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,513 residents, a change of about 69 percent over that period.

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

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