City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Coulee Dam, WA

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

1,457
Residents
$67,868
Median income
$212,900
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Coulee Dam - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Coulee Dam lands in the 47th percentile for household income and the 26th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

47th
percentile, household income
46th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
26th
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: Coulee Dam, WA

1,457 people live in Coulee Dam, Washington - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $67,868 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.0%. Home values in Coulee Dam run a median of $212,900, and the median resident age is 42.0 years. Educational attainment runs 31.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2283.8 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.9°F with 11.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Washington scores 107.0 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Washington's average monthly utility costs around $188 (state average). Workers in Coulee Dam report an average commute of 14.1 minutes, with 79.5% driving alone and 5.1% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 51.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

1,457 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$67,868 /yr

Poverty 8.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Coulee Dam compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 46% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 26% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Washington and the picture shifts: Coulee Dam ranks #90 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Washington-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Coulee Dam near the bottom of Washington's cities

Among the 599 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Coulee Dam ranks #589 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Coulee Dam only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#396 of 565
30th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#589 of 599
0th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#493 of 565
13th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#217 of 598
63rd percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#213 of 599
64th 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.

47thIncome percentile
26thSafety percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income · 26th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Coulee Dam's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Coulee Dam'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 48 Avg. percentile National median
Coulee Dam'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 Coulee Dam's home value compares nationally

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

$212,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 54% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $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. Coulee Dam $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 - Coulee Dam, WA Coulee Dam, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Coulee Dam, 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 Coulee Dam, WA median $67,868/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%
Coulee Dam, 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 Coulee Dam, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.7%

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

Population
1,457
Median Income
$67,868
Median Home Value
$212,900
Median Age
42.0
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Labor force participation
55.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2283.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2283.8
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.9°F
Annual Precipitation
11.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,210 residents1,220 residents1,230 residents1,240 residents1,250 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,213 residents 1,241 residents ▲ +2.3%
Coulee Dam'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 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.1 minutes
Drive Alone
79.5%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.8%
Work from Home
5.1%
Other
2.3%

Based on 688 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 Coulee Dam sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
51.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Lake Marcel-Stillwater
1,463 people
Dallesport
1,434 people
Pomeroy
1,423 people
Ilwaco
1,418 people
Fife Heights
1,508 people
Darrington
1,397 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Coulee Dam's 1,457 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Yellowstone, MT
1,457 people
Bridgeport, OH
1,457 people
Brooklyn, WI
1,457 people
Redfield, AR
1,456 people
Pierson, FL
1,456 people
Ponderay, ID
1,456 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Coulee Dam's $67,868 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hauser, ID
$67,868 median income
Remington, IN
$67,870 median income
Summerside, OH
$67,870 median income
Lovejoy, GA
$67,872 median income
Midlothian, IL
$67,872 median income
Hartselle, AL
$67,863 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Coulee Dam, 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 Coulee Dam, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 50.7% 37.8% 9.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.8% White 50.7% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 1.1% American Indian 37.8% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 9.5% 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 Coulee Dam 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
Coulee Dam (this city) 1,457 $67,868
Lake Marcel-Stillwater 1,463 $195,063
Dallesport 1,434 $67,500
Pomeroy 1,423 $50,197
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Coulee Dam, WA?

What is the population of Coulee Dam, WA? +

Coulee Dam, WA has a population of 1,457 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Coulee Dam, WA? +

Coulee Dam households earn a median of $67,868 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Coulee Dam? +

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

Coulee Dam has a total crime rate of 2283.8 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 Coulee Dam, WA? +

A typical home in Coulee Dam is worth $212,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Coulee Dam? +

The average annual temperature in Coulee Dam runs 49.9°F, 11.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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

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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.