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CITY

Shelton

Washington · 10,921 residents (2025 est.) · 5.816 sq mi
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The short version

Shelton has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,598. Population has grown 26% since 2000. 18% 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 $345,700. At a median age of 32.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 29% less than the Washington median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 103%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,612
+26%since 2000
from 8,442 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,825 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 1,452 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.5
−9%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,921 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K9K10K11K1990201020202024Shelton
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,598
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,500 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,515
+75%since 2000
from $16,303 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.5%
+33.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
−8%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade6.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing5.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$345,700
+103%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,365
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $563 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 60.1% in 2000
38.0% rent
Vacancy rate
8.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.1%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 36.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.0
+73%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
73
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.7%(6,899)
Black0.3%(29)
Hispanic / Latino10.9%(918)
Asian1.1%(97)
Other0%
Diversity Score29%(2,449)
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.3%(6,716)
Black0.3%(28)
Hispanic / Latino28.2%(2,996)
Asian0.9%(92)
Other7.4%(780)
Diversity Score64.3%(6,822)
Diversity Score
64
+122%since 2000
from 29 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.1%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 79.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.1 min
+41%since 2000
from 17.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 74.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.2%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.2%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2011
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.9%
−26.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
14.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−41.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
−5.2 ptssince 2012
from 21.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−69.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.9%
+19.4 ptssince 2017
from 74.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
76.5%
−8.1 ptssince 2016
from 84.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
19.1%
+5.4 ptssince 2016
from 13.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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SHELTON VS
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SHELTON VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelton, Washington?

Shelton, Washington has about 10,612 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shelton, Washington?

The typical household in Shelton, Washington earns about $69,598 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelton, Washington expensive?

In Shelton, Washington, the median home is worth about $345,700, and the typical rent is about $1,365 a month.

How educated are people in Shelton, Washington?

About 18.1% of adults age 25 and over in Shelton, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelton, Washington?

About 17.4% of people in Shelton, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelton, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelton, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,371 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.

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

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