City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Kettle Falls, WA

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

1,703
Residents
$49,750
Median income
$215,100
Median home
$1,131
Median rent (state)

Kettle Falls - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Kettle Falls places in the 19th percentile for household income and the 56th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

19th
percentile, household income
47th
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
56th
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: Kettle Falls, WA

Washington's Kettle Falls is a small town, with 1,703 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Kettle Falls households earn a median of $49,750 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.9%. Typical homes in Kettle Falls are valued around $215,100, and the median resident age is 44.3 years. About 19.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 50.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier. Kettle Falls reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1202.7 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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 $1,131 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Washington's average monthly utility costs around $188 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 60.3 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

1,703 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$49,750 /yr

Poverty 6.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Kettle Falls compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 47% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities
Safety 56% 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, Kettle Falls ranks #46 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 Kettle Falls 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 Kettle Falls near the bottom of Washington's cities

Among the 599 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Kettle Falls ranks #552 - the 7th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Kettle Falls only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#517 of 565
8th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 599
7th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#490 of 565
13th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#257 of 598
57th percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#404 of 599
32nd 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.

19thIncome percentile
56thSafety percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income · 56th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kettle Falls's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kettle Falls'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 45 Avg. percentile National median
Kettle Falls'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 Kettle Falls's home value compares nationally

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

$215,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 53% 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. Kettle Falls $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 - Kettle Falls, WA Kettle Falls, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kettle Falls, 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 Kettle Falls, WA median $49,750/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%
Kettle Falls, 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 Kettle Falls, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.1%

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

Population
1,703
Median Income
$49,750
Median Home Value
$215,100
Median Age
44.3
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Labor force participation
50.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1202.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
120.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1082.4
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
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,630 residents1,640 residents1,650 residents1,660 residents1,670 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,636 residents 1,657 residents ▲ +1.3%
Kettle Falls's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 0
2021 0
2022 1
2023 1
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.3%
Carpool
3.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
2.6%
Other
1.2%

Based on 693 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 Kettle Falls sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,131/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.3 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Napavine
1,705 people
Home
1,718 people
Oroville
1,686 people
Stevenson
1,676 people
Brewster
1,737 people
Fall
1,743 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kettle Falls's 1,703 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Brookston, IN
1,703 people
Hertford, NC
1,703 people
Cienegas Terrace, TX
1,703 people
Carrier Mills, IL
1,702 people
Sedgwick, KS
1,702 people
Glen Gardner, NJ
1,702 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kettle Falls's $49,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Naco, AZ
$49,750 median income
Patterson, AR
$49,750 median income
Nauvoo, IL
$49,750 median income
West Chester, IA
$49,750 median income
Gilbert, LA
$49,750 median income
Granada, MN
$49,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kettle Falls, 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 Kettle Falls, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.7% 8.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 89.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 8.2% 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 Kettle Falls 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
Kettle Falls (this city) 1,703 $49,750
Napavine 1,705 $89,063
Home 1,718 $87,679
Oroville 1,686 $35,560
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kettle Falls, WA?

What is the population of Kettle Falls, WA? +

Kettle Falls, WA has a population of 1,703 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kettle Falls, WA? +

The median household income in Kettle Falls is $49,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kettle Falls? +

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

Kettle Falls has a total crime rate of 1202.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Kettle Falls, WA? +

A typical home in Kettle Falls is worth $215,100, 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.