City · Washington
Chewelah, Washington
Chewelah, city, in Stevens County, Washington. Chewelah had 2,712 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,470 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,606 (±25). GEOID 5312140.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,712
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,470 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,606 ±25
Median household income
$54,167
±$7,394 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$267,400
±$46,132 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$885
±$213 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Chewelah and what county is it in?
Chewelah is a city in Stevens County, Washington. It covers 3.0 square miles of land, 836 residents per square mile in 2020.
Chewelah is in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Chewelah, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,712 people lived in Chewelah on July 1, 2025, up 9.8% since 2020, faster than Washington (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 2,470 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,606 (±25).
| Measure | Chewelah | Stevens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,606 ±25 | 48,067 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,184 ±101 | 19,374 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.18 | 2.47 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,375 ±121 | 22,782 | no clear change |
Chewelah's population since 2000
From 2,186 in 2000 to 2,712 in 2025: up 24.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Chewelah as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chewelah?
The median resident of Chewelah is 48.0 years old; 15.9% are under 18 and 28.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 9.1%.
| Measure | Chewelah | Stevens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 ±9.5 | 46.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.9% ±3.8 pts | 21.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 28.8% ±5.7 pts | 25.3% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±4.3 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% ±1.9 pts | 4.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.8% ±7.4 pts | 83.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±2.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 9.1% ±5.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±5.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8% ±1.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.6% ±2.6 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±2.4 pts | 11.0% | – |
| With a disability | 16.4% ±3.7 pts | 17.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8% ±2.8 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.9% ±5.0 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.3% ±6.1 pts | 22.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.2% ±3.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.4% ±6.3 pts | 89.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±1.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chewelah earn?
Half of Chewelah's 1,184 households earn less than $54,167 a year (±$7,394), against $69,327 in Stevens County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $48,758 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chewelah | Stevens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,167 ±$7,394 | $69,327 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $90,099 ±$24,426 | $92,796 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,518 ±$10,835 | $37,568 | +$11,893 |
| People below the poverty line | 16.8% ±6.2 pts | 12.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.4% ±19.0 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.1% ±6.5 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.0% ±4.0 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.2% ±5.2 pts | 86.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chewelah?
Owners occupy 67.6% of Chewelah's occupied homes and renters 32.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $267,400 by its owner (±$46,132). The median renter pays $885 a month including utilities, and 35.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chewelah | Stevens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $267,400 ±$46,132 | $350,600 | +$63,105 |
| Median gross rent | $885 ±$213 | $898 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.3% ±15.5 pts | 32.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,437 ±$130 | $1,694 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.6% ±8.0 pts | 79.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.4% ±8.0 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,375 ±121 | 22,782 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 6.5% ±5.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% ±5.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.1% ±7.4 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 20.2% ±6.8 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4% ±2.4 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.5% ±2.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.7% ±6.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.0% ±4.1 pts | 4.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chewelah building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Chewelah in 2025 (8 in single-family houses), 2.9 per 1,000 residents against 4.4 across Washington.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chewelah work and get to work?
73.4% of Chewelah's workers drive alone and 12.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.1 minutes.
| Measure | Chewelah | Stevens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.6% ±6.3 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±3.7 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 73.4% ±7.8 pts | 76.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.6% ±5.7 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 3.3% ±3.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.7% ±5.2 pts | 11.1% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.1 min ±2.7 | 29.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Chewelah?
1 census tract lies mostly in Chewelah, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9507Stevens County | 2,353 | $52,679 |
| Tract 9508Stevens County | 3,405 | $82,333 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chewelah) · Census block assignment files
How does Chewelah compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chewelah is the 6,655th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 150th-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Chewelah ranks 363rd of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 150th | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 40th | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 280th | 394 |
| Median household income | 363rd | 387 |
| Per capita income | 233rd | 393 |
| Median home value | 347th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 334th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 314th | 382 |
| Median age | 58th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 235th | 388 |
| Work from home | 207th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 371st | 394 |
Chewelah's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Chewelah with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Chewelah?
16 of the 57 figures for Chewelah on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chewelah are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Chewelah.