City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Selah, WA

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

8,301
Residents
$74,757
Median income
$366,100
Median home
$1,374
Median rent (state)

Selah - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Selah lands in the 56th percentile for household income and the 56th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

56th
percentile, household income
74th
percentile, home value
53rd
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: Selah, WA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,301 residents in Selah, a small town within Washington. Selah households earn a median of $74,757 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.4%. Selah's housing stock carries a median value of $366,100, and the median resident age is 34.2 years. Educational attainment runs 23.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in Selah (Construction Slowdown), down 94% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Selah reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1182.3 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.2°F with 8.4 inches of precipitation per year.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,374 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Washington's average monthly utility costs around $188 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 94.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

8,301 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$74,757 /yr

Poverty 8.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Selah compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 74% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% 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, Selah ranks #45 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 Selah 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 sits close to the middle of Washington's city distribution

Among the 599 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Selah ranks #426 - the 26th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Selah only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#344 of 565
39th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#426 of 599
26th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#335 of 565
41st percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#201 of 598
66th percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#328 of 599
45th 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.

56thIncome percentile
56thSafety percentile

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

Selah's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Selah'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 50 Avg. percentile National median
Selah'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 Selah's home value compares nationally

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

$366,100 26th percentile more affordable than 26% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Selah $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 - Selah, WA Selah, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Selah, 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 Selah, WA median $74,757/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%
Selah, 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 Selah, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.7%

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

Population
8,301
Median Income
$74,757
Median Home Value
$366,100
Median Age
34.2
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Labor force participation
63.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1182.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
126.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1056.0
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
49.2°F
Annual Precipitation
8.4"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,000 residents8,200 residents8,400 residents8,600 residents8,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,245 residents 8,678 residents ▲ +5.3%
Selah's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 53
2020 48
2021 158
2022 57
2023 4
2024 3

Permit volume decreased 94% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.0%
Carpool
3.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
5.1%
Other
1.0%

Based on 4,068 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 Selah sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,374/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Duvall
8,279 people
Stanwood
8,351 people
Barberton
8,213 people
Sequim
8,130 people
Ephrata
8,493 people
Midland
8,676 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Selah's 8,301 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Firebaugh, CA
8,301 people
Folsom, PA
8,298 people
Mila Doce, TX
8,298 people
Edgewater, MD
8,297 people
Pulaski, TN
8,305 people
Lely Resort, FL
8,296 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Selah's $74,757 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

El Mirage, AZ
$74,764 median income
Island Park, ID
$74,750 median income
Westphalia, MI
$74,750 median income
Viking, MN
$74,750 median income
New Bloomfield, MO
$74,750 median income
Caldwell, TX
$74,764 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Selah, 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 Selah, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.0% 22.4% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 28.1% White 64.0% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 2.5% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 22.4% Two or more races 9.3% 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 Selah 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
Selah (this city) 8,301 $74,757
Duvall 8,279 $178,821
Stanwood 8,351 $87,477
Barberton 8,213 $121,524
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Selah, WA?

What is the population of Selah, WA? +

The population of Selah, WA stands at 8,301 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Selah runs $74,757, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Selah? +

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

Selah has a total crime rate of 1182.3 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 Selah, WA? +

Selah's median home value sits at $366,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Selah? +

Climate normals put Selah's yearly average temperature at 49.2°F, 8.4 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.