City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Brewster, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Brewster - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,737
Residents
$52,885
Median income
$237,800
Median home
$1,500
Median rent (state)

Brewster - the verdict

Brewster ranks in the 24th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

24th
percentile, household income
53rd
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Brewster, WA

1,737 people live in Brewster, Washington - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Brewster households earn a median of $52,885 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 23.9%. Typical homes in Brewster are valued around $237,800, and the median resident age is 28.6 years. About 8.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Brewster (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Washington at 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,500 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Washington's average monthly utility costs around $188 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 74.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,737 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$52,885 /yr

Poverty 23.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Brewster compare to other US cities?

Brewster measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 53% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Brewster against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Washington only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Washington-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Brewster's strongest outlier among Washington cities

Among the 598 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Brewster ranks #25 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Brewster only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#495 of 565
12th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#386 of 599
33rd percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#461 of 565
18th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#25 of 598
96th percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#562 of 599
6th percentile in Washington

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Washington only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

24thIncome percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Brewster's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$237,800 47th percentile more affordable than 47% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Brewster $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Brewster, WA Brewster, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brewster, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Brewster, WA median $52,885/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Brewster, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Brewster, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 23.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,737
Median Income
$52,885
Median Home Value
$237,800
Median Age
28.6
Poverty Rate
23.9%
Labor force participation
58.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.3%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents2,150 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,986 residents 2,093 residents ▲ +5.4%
Brewster's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 3
2021 7
2022 0
2023 4
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.6%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
3.9%
Work from Home
10.2%
Other
2.3%

Based on 647 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Brewster sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,500/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Fall
1,743 people
Home
1,718 people
Fords Prairie
1,762 people
Napavine
1,705 people
Wilderness Rim
1,770 people
Kettle Falls
1,703 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brewster's 1,737 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Espy, PA
1,737 people
Trempealeau, WI
1,737 people
Toro Canyon, CA
1,736 people
Atlanta, IL
1,738 people
Hartington, NE
1,736 people
Freeport, PA
1,736 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brewster's $52,885 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ewing, KY
$52,885 median income
Monroe City, MO
$52,883 median income
Webberville, MI
$52,879 median income
Derma, MS
$52,879 median income
Gilman City, MO
$52,875 median income
Hayesville, NC
$52,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brewster, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Brewster, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 29.6% 46.7% 19.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 76.7% White 29.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.0% American Indian 2.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 46.7% Two or more races 19.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Brewster compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Brewster (this city) 1,737 $52,885
Fall 1,743 $144,625
Home 1,718 $87,679
Fords Prairie 1,762 $55,556
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brewster, WA?

What is the population of Brewster, WA? +

The population of Brewster, WA stands at 1,737 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Brewster, WA? +

The median household income in Brewster is $52,885 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brewster? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brewster; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Brewster, WA? +

Brewster's median home value sits at $237,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.