COMPARING TWO PLACES
Kelso vs St. Helens
PLACE A
Kelso, Washington
VS
PLACE B
St. Helens, Oregon
Kelso is 11% smaller than St. Helens. St. Helens earns more, with a median household income $16,114 higher.
KELSOST. HELENSDIFFERENCE
Total population12,80114,450−11% vs St. Helens
Population density1,5742,979−1,405
Population growth6.7%7.2%−0.6 pts
Median age39.939.8+0.1
Male50.1%51.5%−1.4 pts
Female49.9%48.5%+1.4 pts
Foreign-born4.6%3.9%+0.8 pts
White, non-Hispanic75.4%80.7%−5.3 pts
Black1.9%0.1%+1.8 pts
Hispanic / Latino10.3%9.3%+1.0 pts
Asian0.7%0.3%+0.4 pts
Other11.7%9.6%+2.1 pts
Median household income$66,751$82,865−$16,114
Per capita income$35,246$37,404−$2,158
Poverty rate12.0%10.0%+2.0 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.3810.385Even
Bachelor's degree or higher12.5%16.9%−4.4 pts
Graduate degree3.0%5.4%−2.4 pts
Unemployment rate6.6%3.6%+3.0 pts
Labor force participation64.3%58.9%+5.5 pts
Median home value$337,600$394,200−$56,600
Median gross rent$1,220$1,413−$193
Owner-occupied56.1%62.0%−5.8 pts
Housing vacancy rate3.9%4.9%−1.0 pts
Rent-burdened households46.5%53.2%−6.8 pts
Average commute20.830.3−9.6
Worked from home5.6%13.2%−7.6 pts
Public transit to work0.4%0.1%+0.3 pts
Uninsured9.6%5.4%+4.2 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025