At a Glance
Median Income
$59,462
$29,002 per capita
Home Value
$302,300
Zillow: $382,455
Median Rent
$1,131/mo
32.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
267/100K
3,173/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
11.8%
88.7% high school+
Unemployment
2.8%
15.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.5%
15.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°F
240 sunny days/yr
How Kelso Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Kelso's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Kelso a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.6 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Kelso residents earn a median household income of $59,462 , which is 21% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,002. The unemployment rate stands at 2.8% (22% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,712 business establishments, including 230 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Kelso is $302,300 , 7% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $382,455. Median rent is $1,131/month, with 32.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 107.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1961.
Safety & Crime
Kelso reports 267 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 30% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,173/100K. The murder rate is 8.1/100K.
Education
11.8% of adults in Kelso hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(65% below the national average).
88.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Kelso has an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C).
Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July. The area gets 240 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 48.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 28.
Data Overview
People
Population12,697
Median Age38.4 yrs
Density1,560/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans10.7%
Economy
B+
Median Income$59,462
Per Capita$29,002
Unemployment2.8%
Poverty15.1%
County GDP$7,231M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,300
Housing
B+
Home Value$302,300
Rent$1,131
Ownership54.8%
Zillow$382,455
Housing Units5,501
Rent Burden32.6%
Crime
F
Violent267/100K
Property3,173/100K
Murder8.1/100K
Assault121/100K
Burglary380/100K
Health
Obesity42.5%
Diabetes10.4%
Smoking15.5%
Heart Disease6.1%
Premature Death9,701/100K
Climate
Avg Temp53°F
Sunny Days240/yr
Rain48.1 in/yr
AQI28 (Good)
Elevation22 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+11.8%
High School+88.7%
Graduate+2.2%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 59% / D 39%
Commute21 min
Broadband89.3%
Internet Speed116 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries6
Did You Know?
Kelso was founded in 1884.
The median home in Kelso was built in 1961.
The nearest airport is Southwest Washington Regional (1 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.438 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
21.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 116 Mbps.
There are 230 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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