Kelso, WA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Kelso, Washington Summary

Life in Kelso research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Kelso over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Kelso:

  • The population in Kelso is 12,697.

  • The median home value in Kelso is $384,016.

  • The median income in Kelso is $59,462.

  • The cost of living in Kelso is 106 which is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Kelso is $1,131.

  • The unemployment rate in Kelso is 5.0%.

  • The poverty rate in Kelso is 19.5%.

  • The average high in Kelso is 61.5° and the average low is 42.4°.

Kelso SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
8
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
5
Commute
8

Kelso, WA Crime Report

Crime in Kelso summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Kelso. Key points include:

  • There were 273 total crimes in Kelso in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Kelso is 2,163.2 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Kelso is 229.8 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Kelso is 1,933.4 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Kelso is 2.08% above the national average.

273
Total Crimes
2.08%
Above National Average

Crime In Kelso Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Kelso
/ 100k People
Washington
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 273 2,163.2 2,792.6 2,119.2
Violent Crime 29 229.8 326.1 359.0
Murder 1 7.9 3.8 5.0
Robbery 11 87.2 67.5 61.0
Aggravated Assault 11 87.2 217.0 256.0
Property Crime 244 1,933.4 2,466.5 1,760.0
Burglary 36 285.3 398.8 229.0
Larceny 187 1,481.8 1,634.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 21 166.4 433.5 259.0

Kelso, WA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Kelso summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Kelso. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Washington. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Kelso is 106 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Kelso is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Kelso is $384,016.

  • The median income in Kelso is $59,462.

106
Kelso's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Kelso Comparison Table

Living Expense Kelso Washington National Average
Overall 106 118 100
Services 107 111 100
Groceries 110 112 100
Health 111 122 100
Housing 99 135 100
Transportation 124 124 100
Utilities 98 91 100

Kelso, WA Weather

  • The average high in Kelso is 61.5° and the average low is 42.4°.

  • There are 42.2 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 49.8 inches of precipitation each year with 3.6 inches of snow.

StatKelso
Average Annual High61.5
Average Annual Low42.4
Annual Precipitation Days42.2
Average Annual Precipitation49.8
Average Annual Snowfall3.6
61.5°
Average High
42.2
Days of Rain

Kelso, WA Photos

Main Post Office  Kelso Washington
Source: Wikipedia User Ian Poellet (User:Werewom | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Kelso in Washington

Locations Around Kelso

Map Of Kelso, WA

Best Places Around Kelso

1

Woodland, WA
Population 6,513

2

Longview, WA
Population 37,836

3

Columbia, PA
Population 10,217

4

St. Helens, OR
Population 14,152

Kelso Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Kelso

The current population in Kelso is 12,697. The population has increased 6.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 12,697 0.3%
2022 12,661 0.8%
2021 12,566 2.7%
2020 12,237 0.9%
2019 12,123 1.2%
2018 11,983 1.0%
2017 11,864 -0.1%
2016 11,871 0.3%
2015 11,837 0.0%
2014 11,837 -0.3%
2013 11,878 -0.4%
2012 11,929 -0.4%
2011 11,974 -0.0%
2010 11,977 -

Race / Ethnicity in Kelso

White
80.0% (10,157)
African American
1.6% (208)
American Indian
0.1% (16)
Asian
0.8% (104)
Hawaiian
0.3% (32)
Other
0.1% (8)
Two Or More
6.4% (812)
Hispanic
10.7% (1,360)

Kelso is:

  • 80.0% White with 10,157 White residents.

  • 1.6% African American with 208 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 16 American Indian residents.

  • 0.8% Asian with 104 Asian residents.

  • 0.3% Hawaiian with 32 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.1% Other with 8 Other residents.

  • 6.4% Two Or More with 812 Two Or More residents.

  • 10.7% Hispanic with 1,360 Hispanic residents.

Race Kelso WA USA
White 80.0% 64.3% 58.2%
African American 1.6% 3.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.8% 0.5%
Asian 0.8% 9.3% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.3% 0.7% 0.2%
Other 0.1% 0.5% 0.5%
Two Or More 6.4% 6.5% 3.9%
Hispanic 10.7% 14.1% 19.0%

Gender in Kelso

Female
49.2% (6,248)
Male
50.8% (6,448)
  • Kelso is 49.2% female with 6,248 female residents.

  • Kelso is 50.8% male with 6,448 male residents.

Gender Kelso WA USA
Female 49.2% 49.6% 50.5%
Male 50.8% 50.4% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Kelso for adults over 25

  • 4.0% of adults in Kelso completed < 9th grade.

  • 7.0% of adults in Kelso completed 9-12th grade.

  • 31.0% of adults in Kelso completed high school / ged.

  • 35.0% of adults in Kelso completed some college.

  • 11.0% of adults in Kelso completed associate's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Kelso completed bachelor's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Kelso completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Kelso completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Kelso completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
4.0% (507)
9-12th Grade
7.0% (888)
High School / GED
31.0% (3,936)
Some College
35.0% (4,443)
Associate's Degree
11.0% (1,396)
Bachelor's Degree
9.0% (1,142)
Master's Degree
2.0% (253)
Professional Degree
1.0% (126)
Doctorate Degree
0.0% (0)
Education Kelso WA USA
< 9th Grade 4.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 7.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 31.0% 22.0% 26.0%
Some College 35.0% 22.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 11.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 9.0% 24.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 2.0% 11.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Kelso, Washington

  • 7.1% of households in Kelso earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.4% of households in Kelso earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 6.4% of households in Kelso earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 12.8% of households in Kelso earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.7% of households in Kelso earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 23.9% of households in Kelso earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.9% of households in Kelso earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 13.3% of households in Kelso earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 4.5% of households in Kelso earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 3.0% of households in Kelso earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
7.1% (89,784)
$10,000 to $14,999
2.4% (30,728)
$15,000 to $24,999
6.4% (81,621)
$25,000 to $34,999
12.8% (162,283)
$35,000 to $49,999
13.7% (173,566)
$50,000 to $74,999
23.9% (303,201)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.9% (163,483)
$100,000 to $149,999
13.3% (169,005)
$150,000 to $199,999
4.5% (57,375)
$200,000 or more
3.0% (38,650)
Income Kelso WA USA
Less than $10,000 7.1% 3.8% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.4% 2.7% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 6.4% 4.9% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 12.8% 5.3% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.7% 8.6% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 23.9% 14.6% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.9% 12.6% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 13.3% 19.2% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.5% 11.3% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 3.0% 17.2% 12.6%

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