City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Cheney, WA

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

12,830
Residents
$47,039
Median income
$330,300
Median home
$1,531
Median rent (state)

Cheney - the verdict

Nationally, Cheney sits in the 15th percentile for household income and the 31st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

15th
percentile, household income
69th
percentile, home value
61st
percentile, median rent
31st
percentile, safety
📝 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: Cheney, WA

12,830 people live in Cheney, Washington - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Cheney households earn a median of $47,039 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.9%. Typical homes in Cheney are valued around $330,300, and the median resident age is 23.9 years. About 36.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 25 residential building permits were authorized in Cheney (Construction Slowdown), down 89% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2041.5 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,531 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

12,830 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$47,039 /yr

Poverty 20.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Cheney compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 69% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% pricier than other cities
Safety 31% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Washington, Cheney ranks #79 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cheney 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 Cheney's strongest outlier among Washington cities

Among the 598 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Cheney ranks #40 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cheney only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#530 of 565
6th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#361 of 599
36th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#371 of 565
34th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#40 of 598
93rd percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#159 of 599
73rd 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.

15thIncome percentile
31stSafety percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income · 31st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cheney's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cheney's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 27 Avg. percentile National median
Cheney's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cheney's home value compares nationally

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

$330,300 31st percentile more affordable than 31% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Cheney $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 - Cheney, WA Cheney, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cheney, 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 Cheney, WA median $47,039/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%
Cheney, 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 Cheney, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.5%

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

Population
12,830
Median Income
$47,039
Median Home Value
$330,300
Median Age
23.9
Poverty Rate
20.9%
Labor force participation
55.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2041.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
371.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1670.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,000 residents12,500 residents13,000 residents13,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,385 residents 12,650 residents ▼ -5.5%
Cheney's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
25
housing units authorized
Single-Family
21
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 219
2020 26
2021 69
2022 12
2023 17
2024 25

Permit volume decreased 89% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.6%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
11.3%
Work from Home
10.2%

Based on 6,217 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 Cheney sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,531/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Lakeland South
12,869 people
Newcastle
12,945 people
Kelso
12,697 people
Edgewood
12,683 people
Enumclaw
12,663 people
Sedro-Woolley
12,633 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cheney's 12,830 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Santa Fe, TX
12,828 people
Stony Brook, NY
12,827 people
Timberlake, VA
12,833 people
Forrest City, AR
12,826 people
West Monroe, LA
12,837 people
Solana Beach, CA
12,841 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cheney's $47,039 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cass Lake, MN
$47,045 median income
San Saba, TX
$47,045 median income
Ashley, IL
$47,031 median income
Nebo, KY
$47,031 median income
Clayton, LA
$47,031 median income
Chestertown, MD
$47,047 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cheney, 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 Cheney, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.3% 10.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.5% White 77.3% Black or African American 2.7% Asian 2.1% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 5.9% Two or more races 10.3% 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 Cheney 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
Cheney (this city) 12,830 $47,039
Lakeland South 12,869 $105,273
Newcastle 12,945 $162,646
Kelso 12,697 $59,462
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cheney, WA?

What is the population of Cheney, WA? +

Cheney, WA has a population of 12,830 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Cheney is $47,039 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cheney? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cheney; 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.

Is Cheney, WA safe? +

Cheney has a total crime rate of 2041.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Homes in Cheney carry a median value of $330,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.