United States › Washington › Ellensburg CITY
Ellensburg Washington · 21,308 residents (2025 est.) · 8.32 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 20,874 people, Ellensburg is a city in Washington. This skews young, with a median age of 25.0. 33% of homes are owner-occupied. 68% were living in the same home a year earlier. Households here earn about 44% less than in Washington as a whole. The population is up 35% since 2000.
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 from 15,414 in 2000
21,308 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,509 / sq mi
+21%since 2009
from 2,065 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 23.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 14K 17K 19K 22K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ellensburg Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $55,438
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,034 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,662 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 34.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.487 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.8%
Public administration 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
Transportation & warehousing 1.2%
Education & health services 0.6%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$404,100
+100%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,340
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 34.6% in 2000
67.1% rent
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.10 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 8.6 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 85.1%(13,123)
Hispanic / Latino 6.3%(976)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 75.8%(15,813)
Hispanic / Latino 12.8%(2,674)
from 36 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
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data from 32.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 32.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 82.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 94.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 63.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 87.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 53.9%(4,629)
Women 15+
Never married 51.4%(4,910)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 55.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 21.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 73.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 31.1% 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) 35%(427)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.4%(225)
Share of the 1,220 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
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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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