City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Chelan, WA

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

4,314
Residents
$71,996
Median income
$428,200
Median home
$1,500
Median rent (state)

Chelan - the verdict

Chelan ranks in the 52nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

52nd
percentile, household income
80th
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: Chelan, WA

4,314 people live in Chelan, Washington - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Chelan brings in $71,996 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.9%. Typical homes in Chelan are valued around $428,200, and the median resident age is 46.7 years. About 26.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 53.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 34 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 8% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 50.1°F with 12.0 inches of precipitation per year and 20.5 inches of snowfall.

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. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 74.1 out of 100 (High).

Population

4,314 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$71,996 /yr

Poverty 5.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Chelan compare to other US cities?

Here's how Chelan stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 80% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Chelan's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Washington, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

52ndIncome percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Chelan's home value compares nationally

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

$428,200 20th percentile more affordable than 20% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Chelan $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 - Chelan, WA Chelan, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Chelan, 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 Chelan, WA median $71,996/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%
Chelan, 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 Chelan, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.2%

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

Population
4,314
Median Income
$71,996
Median Home Value
$428,200
Median Age
46.7
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Labor force participation
53.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.1°F
Annual Precipitation
12.0"
Annual Snowfall
20.5"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,200 residents4,300 residents4,400 residents4,500 residents4,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,240 residents 4,494 residents ▲ +6.0%
Chelan's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
34
housing units authorized
Single-Family
32
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 37
2020 99
2021 66
2022 60
2023 36
2024 34

Permit volume decreased 8% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
60.0%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
15.2%
Work from Home
14.5%
Other
4.0%

Based on 1,914 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 Chelan 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

Boulevard Park
4,334 people
Bethel
4,276 people
Rosedale
4,267 people
Longview Heights
4,403 people
Mirrormont
4,217 people
Montesano
4,157 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Chelan's 4,314 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lincoln Park, CO
4,315 people
Baldwin, WI
4,313 people
Mills, WY
4,315 people
Hampton, IA
4,311 people
Huber Ridge, OH
4,311 people
Reedsport, OR
4,317 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Chelan's $71,996 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Posen, IL
$71,994 median income
Brinson, GA
$72,000 median income
Burtons Bridge, IL
$72,000 median income
Canton, IN
$72,000 median income
Boys Town, NE
$72,000 median income
Bath, NC
$72,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Chelan, 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 Chelan, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.6% 16.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.1% White 75.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 16.9% 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 Chelan 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
Chelan (this city) 4,314 $71,996
Boulevard Park 4,334 $75,646
Bethel 4,276 $84,214
Rosedale 4,267 $149,632
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Chelan, WA?

What is the population of Chelan, WA? +

The population of Chelan, WA stands at 4,314 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Chelan runs $71,996, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Chelan? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Chelan; 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 Chelan, WA? +

The median home value in Chelan is $428,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Chelan? +

Climate normals put Chelan's yearly average temperature at 50.1°F, 12.0 inches of precipitation, and 20.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.