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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Kelso

Washington · 11,895 residents · 8.14 sq mi
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The short version

Kelso is a city of 11,895 people in Washington. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Owners hold 52% of the housing stock. Households here earn about 35% less than in Washington as a whole. The poverty rate is 19.8%, above the 12.4% national rate. The median household earns $29,722, about 30% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.9
US median: 35.2
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

11,895
+1%since 1990
from 11,820 in 1990
1990 – 2025
32.9
+4%since 1990
from 31.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
8.14 sq mi
Population, 19902024
12K12K12K13K13K19902000201020202024Kelso
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.4%(881)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98.1%(959)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.2%(973)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.7%(917)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247.5%(891)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.9%(1,656)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.1%(1,795)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412.4%(1,476)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647.4%(879)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.6%(790)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.2%(502)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.5%(176)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$29,722
−6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $23,887 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$15,162
+41%since 1990
from $10,718 in 1990
US average: $21,522
19.8%
−0.7 ptssince 1990
from 20.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$91,300
+47%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $47,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$507
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $317 in 1990
US average: $602
51.5%
−1.6 ptssince 1990
from 53.1% in 1990
48.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(11,163)
Black0.3%(41)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(388)
Asian1.2%(141)
2000
White, non-Hispanic87.2%(10,374)
Black0.8%(97)
Hispanic / Latino6.9%(824)
Asian0.9%(109)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican9.3%(1,185)
Argentine0.3%(35)
Honduran0.2%(24)
Salvadoran0.1%(16)
Puerto Rican0.1%(14)
Cuban0.1%(9)
Asian origin
Japanese0.4%(50)
Chinese0.2%(25)
Filipino0.1%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(15)
Ancestry
German15.5%(1,961)
English14.9%(1,890)
Irish8.9%(1,133)
Norwegian3.8%(486)
American3.8%(485)
Scottish3.6%(451)
Italian2.6%(333)
Danish2.6%(325)
Swedish2.1%(271)
Polish2%(248)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(223)
French1.7%(215)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Croatian1.5%(189)
Dutch1.3%(168)
Finnish0.3%(43)
Portuguese0.3%(37)
British0.3%(36)
Russian0.3%(34)
Ukrainian0.2%(27)
Arab0.2%(26)
Austrian0.2%(25)
Welsh0.2%(20)
Belgian0.1%(17)
Canadian0.1%(16)
Swiss0.1%(14)
Lithuanian0.1%(11)
Lebanese0.1%(7)
Greek0.1%(7)
Section 05

Education

10.3%
+1.7 ptssince 1990
from 8.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
79.4%
+6.8 ptssince 1990
from 72.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.9%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 2.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.7 min
−10%since 1990
from 15.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.5%(1,276)
Married56%(2,508)
Widowed2.6%(116)
Divorced13%(581)
Women 15+
Never married19.8%(916)
Married52.8%(2,445)
Widowed12.7%(589)
Divorced14.7%(680)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

9.6%
−8.8 ptssince 2013
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
50.5%
+7.6 ptssince 2020
from 42.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 9.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
18.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 18.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
30.3%
−10.7 ptssince 2020
from 41.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 4.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
61.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2020
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
45.7%
−9.6 ptssince 2020
from 55.3% 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)19.8%(227)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.1%(208)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era27%(310)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.5%(52)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.9%(22)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,147 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Kelso, Washington?

Kelso, Washington has about 11,895 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Kelso, Washington?

The typical household in Kelso, Washington earns about $29,722 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kelso, Washington expensive?

In Kelso, Washington, the median home is worth about $91,300, and the typical rent is about $507 a month.

How educated are people in Kelso, Washington?

About 10.3% of adults age 25 and over in Kelso, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kelso, Washington?

About 19.8% of people in Kelso, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kelso, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Kelso, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 75 residents, a change of about 1 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 →