City · Washington
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee, city, in Chelan County, Washington. Wenatchee had 35,547 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 35,508 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 35,484 (±37). GEOID 5377105.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
35,547
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 35,508 · ACS 2020-2024: 35,484 ±37
Median household income
$73,040
±$5,455 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$433,700
±$17,448 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,248
±$81 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Wenatchee and what county is it in?
Wenatchee is a city in Chelan County, Washington. It covers 10.6 square miles of land, 3,338 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wenatchee is in the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, 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 Wenatchee, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 35,547 people lived in Wenatchee on July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, while Washington grew 3.8%. The 2020 Census counted 35,508 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 35,484 (±37).
| Measure | Wenatchee | Chelan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 35,484 ±37 | 80,172 | +1,296 |
| Households | 14,260 ±456 | 31,520 | +1,516 |
| Average household size | 2.43 ±0.08 | 2.49 | −0.19 |
| Housing units | 14,682 ±401 | 38,677 | +872 |
Wenatchee's population since 2000
From 27,856 in 2000 to 35,547 in 2025: up 27.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee?
The median resident of Wenatchee is 35.9 years old; 25.4% are under 18 and 18.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 35.7%. 13.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wenatchee | Chelan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 ±1.4 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.4% ±1.3 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.0% ±1.5 pts | 20.9% | – |
| Male | 49.1% ±1.3 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 35.7% ±2.7 pts | 29.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.9% ±2.9 pts | 65.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | −0.6 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.3 pts | 0.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±0.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.7% ±2.1 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.0% ±3.2 pts | 25.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.0% ±1.0 pts | 6.4% | – |
| With a disability | 17.2% ±1.9 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.1% ±2.1 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.9% ±3.0 pts | 86.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.8% ±2.7 pts | 31.2% | +6.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.2% ±1.4 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.6% ±2.5 pts | 87.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4% ±1.1 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 Wenatchee earn?
Half of Wenatchee's 14,260 households earn less than $73,040 a year (±$5,455), against $82,381 in Chelan County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $65,432 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,608 after inflation. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wenatchee | Chelan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,040 ±$5,455 | $82,381 | +$7,608 |
| Mean household income | $97,886 ±$5,946 | $112,869 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,053 ±$2,320 | $44,369 | +$3,818 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.4% ±2.3 pts | 8.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.1% ±5.9 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.2% ±3.0 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.3% ±1.9 pts | 96.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.7% ±2.0 pts | 90.7% | – |
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 Wenatchee?
Owners occupy 53.8% of Wenatchee's occupied homes and renters 46.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $433,700 by its owner (±$17,448). The median renter pays $1,248 a month including utilities, and 36.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wenatchee | Chelan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $433,700 ±$17,448 | $490,100 | +$121,596 |
| Median gross rent | $1,248 ±$81 | $1,226 | +$99 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.1% ±4.8 pts | 34.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,943 ±$99 | $2,048 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.8% ±3.2 pts | 64.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.2% ±3.2 pts | 35.4% | – |
| Housing units | 14,682 ±401 | 38,677 | +872 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.4% ±2.9 pts | 68.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.1% ±1.9 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.9% ±1.6 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.3% ±2.1 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.0% ±1.6 pts | 5.8% | – |
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 Wenatchee building?
Builders took permits for 553 new housing units in Wenatchee in 2025 (77 in single-family houses), 15.6 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 Wenatchee work and get to work?
75.1% of Wenatchee's workers drive alone and 6.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.
| Measure | Wenatchee | Chelan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.8% ±2.3 pts | 59.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.1% ±2.5 pts | 72.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.6% ±2.2 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.8% ±1.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.5% ±1.0 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.8% ±1.6 pts | 9.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.0 min ±1.1 | 20.2 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 Wenatchee?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Wenatchee, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,148 (Tract 9610.02) to $117,875 (Tract 9613.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9608.04Chelan County | 5,543 | $74,914 |
| Tract 9613.03Chelan County | 4,116 | $66,680 |
| Tract 9611.01Chelan County | 4,031 | $83,906 |
| Tract 9608.03Chelan County | 3,798 | $56,908 |
| Tract 9610.02Chelan County | 3,746 | $49,148 |
| Tract 9611.02Chelan County | 5,926 | $83,169 |
| Tract 9613.04Chelan County | 4,202 | $91,607 |
| Tract 9610.01Chelan County | 2,702 | $70,289 |
| Tract 9608.01Chelan County | 3,124 | $88,365 |
| Tract 9607Chelan County | 3,995 | $135,000 |
| Tract 9613.01Chelan County | 1,244 | $117,875 |
| Tract 9612Chelan County | 4,381 | $91,228 |
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 Wenatchee) · Census block assignment files
How does Wenatchee compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wenatchee is the 1,159th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 34th-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Wenatchee ranks 297th 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 | 34th | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 164th | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 67th | 394 |
| Median household income | 297th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 262nd | 393 |
| Median home value | 253rd | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 250th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 135th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 197th | 382 |
| Median age | 290th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 350th | 388 |
| Work from home | 290th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 363rd | 394 |
Wenatchee's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee?
5 of the 57 figures for Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee.