CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA

Ellensburg Micro

Ellensburg, WA · 1 counties · 48,803 residents (2025 est.) · 2,297.272 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Ellensburg has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,804. Population has grown 41% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $497,400. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
47,172
+41%since 2000
from 33,362 in 2000
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

PEP 2025 EST:48,803 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
25K31K37K43K49K1990201020202024Ellensburg
202447K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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%
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
+64%since 2000
from 4.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
71
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ellensburg on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.4%(29,825)
Black0.7%(227)
Hispanic / Latino5%(1,668)
Asian2.1%(714)
Other0%
Diversity Score18.9%(6,307)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.3%(37,384)
Black1.1%(497)
Hispanic / Latino10.5%(4,974)
Asian1.7%(812)
Other7.4%(3,505)
Diversity Score44.4%(20,926)
Segregation Score14.4%(6,814)
Diversity Score
44
+135%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
14
−16%since 2020
from 17 in 2020
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%
Self-employed
17.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.5%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% 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%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% 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%
−79.3 ptssince 2013
from 85.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+9.1 ptssince 2017
from 81.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
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%
In this metro

Principal cities

EllensburgCENTRAL21,308
What's inside

1 component county

Kittitas CountyCENTRAL48,803
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Ellensburg

Columbus
Pop 46,583
Kendallville
Pop 47,937
Menomonie
Pop 46,223
Burley
Pop 49,308
Places similar to Ellensburg
Head to head

Compare Ellensburg side by side

ELLENSBURG VS
Columbus
Income$74,127same
Home value$205,319−59%
Population46,583−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLENSBURG VS
Kendallville
Income$71,723−3%
Home value$196,800−60%
Population47,937−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLENSBURG VS
Menomonie
Income$74,824+1%
Home value$243,200−51%
Population46,223−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLENSBURG VS
Burley
Income$70,619−4%
Home value$274,355−45%
Population49,308+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ellensburg, WA?

Ellensburg, WA has about 47,172 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ellensburg, WA?

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

Is Ellensburg, WA expensive?

In Ellensburg, WA, the median home is worth about $497,400, and the typical rent is about $1,341 a month.

How educated are people in Ellensburg, WA?

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

What is the poverty rate in Ellensburg, WA?

About 14.4% of people in Ellensburg, WA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ellensburg, WA grown since 1990?

Yes, Ellensburg, WA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 20,447 residents, a change of about 77 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Ellensburg with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →