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COUNTY

Kittitas County

Washington · 48,803 residents (2025 est.) · 2,297 sq mi
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Part of the Ellensburg micropolitan area
The short version

Kittitas County is a county of 47,172 people in Washington. Few US counties rank higher on income. Growth has run 41% since 2000, or 13,810 more people. There are 21 people per square mile. The foreign-born share is 5%. Households here earn about 25% less than in Washington as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $73,804, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 104%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Kittitas County

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$144,004 → $497,400 (+245%)US over the same years: +67%
  • Population26,725 → 47,172 (+77%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Median household income (2024 dollars)$49,175 → $73,804 (+50%)US over the same years: +14%

Among the 39 counties in Washington

  • 22nd in household income$73,804
  • 9th in share with a bachelor's degree37.0%
  • 12th in home value$497,400
  • 24th in diversity score44.4
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
47,172
+41%since 2000
from 33,362 in 2000
48,803 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
+41%since 2000
from 15 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.8
+14%since 2000
from 31.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2,297 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K31K37K43K49K19902000201020202024Kittitas County
202447K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.1%(1,955)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(2,274)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.8%(2,285)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.5%(4,013)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2414.4%(6,788)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.3%(5,795)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.6%(4,979)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.7%(5,059)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.7%(5,984)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.5%(4,958)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.2%(2,476)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.3%(606)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,804
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,546 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,661
+131%since 2000
from $18,928 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.3%
+24.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.4%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
−1%since 2010
from 0.477 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$497,400
+104%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $134,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,341
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
38.5% rent
Vacancy rate
19.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.28 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
26.3%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.1%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.7
+12%since 2009
from 6.0 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.4%(29,825)
Black0.7%(227)
Hispanic / Latino5%(1,668)
Asian2.1%(714)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.3%(37,384)
Black1.1%(497)
Hispanic / Latino10.5%(4,974)
Asian1.7%(812)
Other7.4%(3,505)
Diversity Score
44
+43%since 2009
from 31 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
14
−16%since 2020
from 17 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican8.5%(4,008)
Cuban0.5%(217)
Spaniard0.4%(186)
Colombian0.3%(126)
Puerto Rican0.2%(98)
Salvadoran0.1%(70)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(182)
Korean0.4%(168)
Vietnamese0.3%(141)
Chinese0.2%(108)
Asian Indian0.2%(91)
Nepalese0.1%(56)
Taiwanese0%(20)
Laotian0%(19)
Japanese0%(16)
Cambodian0%(10)
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German17.1%(8,085)
English14%(6,621)
Irish13.1%(6,186)
Norwegian4.7%(2,219)
Italian3.2%(1,529)
Swedish3.2%(1,526)
Scottish3.2%(1,512)
American3%(1,414)
Polish2.3%(1,095)
French2.2%(1,040)
Dutch2.1%(994)
Welsh1.8%(838)
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1.3%(592)
British1.2%(549)
Czech0.6%(290)
Swiss0.6%(273)
Croatian0.6%(260)
Canadian0.5%(221)
Brazilian0.4%(194)
Austrian0.3%(165)
Romanian0.3%(119)
Greek0.2%(114)
Portuguese0.2%(113)
Ukrainian0.2%(89)
Finnish0.2%(88)
Arab0.2%(74)
Australian0.2%(74)
Slovene0.1%(59)
Russian0.1%(54)
Hungarian0.1%(48)
West Indian0.1%(48)
Ethiopian0.1%(47)
Lithuanian0.1%(44)
Latvian0.1%(39)
Belgian0.1%(36)
Nigerian0.1%(36)
Haitian0%(19)
Iranian0%(16)
Egyptian0%(15)
Lebanese0%(15)
Slovak0%(14)
Jamaican0%(14)
Serbian0%(11)
Kenyan0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.0%
+10.8 ptssince 2000
from 26.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.9%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+39%since 2000
from 16.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 70.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.8%
+9.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2011
from 60.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
71.5%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 71.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
17.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2012
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−9.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+9.1 ptssince 2017
from 81.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 94.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
81.1%
+7.0 ptssince 2020
from 74.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
92.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 90.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 5.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married38.5%(7,872)
Married50.9%(10,400)
Widowed2.3%(478)
Divorced8.3%(1,693)
Women 15+
Never married34.1%(6,894)
Married49.2%(9,942)
Widowed5.6%(1,139)
Divorced11.1%(2,240)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.8%
−9.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
56.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 54.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
18.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 17.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 20.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
73.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 73.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
35.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 35.9% 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)25.1%(742)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21.1%(624)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.7%(937)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.9%(86)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.3%(37)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,959 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
Over time

Kittitas County, decade by decade

Kittitas County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199026,725$49,175$144,00422.2%13.4
200033,362$59,288$244,28426.2%24.6
201040,915$59,315$382,08431.9%31.5
202044,337$72,362$382,76234.1%43.7
202447,172$73,804$497,40037.0%44.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Kittitas County

Henry County
Pop 48,095
Montrose County
Pop 44,591
Bingham County
Pop 51,153
Nez Perce County
Pop 42,905
Places similar to Kittitas County
Head to head

Compare Kittitas County to nearby counties

KITTITAS COUNTY VS
Yakima County
Income$70,656−4%
Home value$310,100−38%
Population259,185+431%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KITTITAS COUNTY VS
Chelan County
Income$82,381+12%
Home value$490,100−1%
Population81,941+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KITTITAS COUNTY VS
Grant County
Income$73,267−1%
Home value$299,500−40%
Population105,727+117%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KITTITAS COUNTY VS
King County
Income$124,746+69%
Home value$859,900+73%
Population2,344,939+4705%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kittitas County, Washington?

Kittitas County, Washington has about 47,172 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kittitas County, Washington?

The typical household in Kittitas County, Washington earns about $73,804 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kittitas County, Washington expensive?

In Kittitas County, Washington, the median home is worth about $497,400, and the typical rent is about $1,341 a month.

How educated are people in Kittitas County, Washington?

About 37.0% of adults age 25 and over in Kittitas County, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kittitas County, Washington?

About 14.4% of people in Kittitas County, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kittitas County, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Kittitas County, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 20,447 residents, a change of about 77 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 →