Housing data for Kelso, WA
Kelso, WA has an estimated 12,684 residents and 5,656 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in Cowlitz County.
43.9% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,220 a month.
Its population grew measurably since 2015–2019 (+4.6%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 12,684 (±62)
- Housing units
- 5,656 (±287)
- Households that rent
- 43.9%
- Median gross rent
- $1,220
- Residents since 2015–2019
- +4.6%
What stands out in Kelso
Households that rent: 43.9% (±5.7 points) in Kelso, higher than in Cowlitz County (32.0%).
Households that moved in since 2020: 30.5% (±5.9 points) in Kelso, higher than in Cowlitz County (23.7%).
Working from home: 5.6% (±2.2 points) in Kelso, lower than in Cowlitz County (8.2%).
Homes built before 1980: 70.1% (±9.0 points) in Kelso, higher than in Cowlitz County (56.8%).
- Renters and owners in Kelso
- How long people stay in Kelso
- Commute and cars in Kelso
- Age of homes in Kelso
Housing in Kelso at a glance
- Median rent: $1,220 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $1,158 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 47.4% of renters pay 30% or more of income
- Renters and owners: 43.9% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $66,751 median household income
- Home values: $337,600 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $1,782 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $2,945 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 13.6% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 53.5% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 70.1% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 4.1% rental vacancy rate
- Heating fuel: 89.9% heat with electricity
- Commute and cars: 20.8 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 118 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: +4.6% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 30.5% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 2.6% of homes have more than 1 person per room
Kelso against Cowlitz County, its state and the nation
| Kelso | Cowlitz County | Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 12,684 (±62) | 112,360 (exact) | 7,816,116 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 5,656 (±287) | 46,422 (±96) | 3,306,620 (±517) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 43.9% (±5.7 points) | 32.0% (±1.6 points) | 36.2% (±0.3 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,220 (±$69) | $1,206 (±$39) | $1,760 (±$7) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $66,751 (±$5,488) | $76,531 (±$3,128) | $98,141 (±$414) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $337,600 (±$21,416) | $397,500 (±$10,389) | $564,600 (±$1,940) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $2,945 (±$251) | $3,245 (±$84) | $4,556 (±$16) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 70.1% (±9.0 points) | 56.8% (±2.6 points) | 43.4% (±0.3 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 20.8 minutes (±2.5) | 26.1 minutes (±1.0) | 26.6 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 91.4% (±3.1 points) | 91.0% (±1.0 points) | 93.6% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 39.9 years (±3.7) | 41.5 years (±0.4) | 38.3 years (±0.1) | 38.9 years |
Kelso covers 8.1 square miles of land, about 1,559 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Kelso has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 12,123 (±28) | 12,684 (±62) | +4.6% | Measurable increase |
| Housing units | 4,764 (±276) | 5,656 (±287) | +18.7% | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $833 (±$81) | $1,220 (±$69) | +46.5% | Up after inflation |
| Median home value | $148,100 (±$19,509) | $337,600 (±$21,416) | +128.0% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $39,044 (±$3,525) | $66,751 (±$5,488) | +71.0% | Up after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $1,223 (±$69) | $1,782 (±$119) | +45.7% | Up after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $1,620 (±$118) | $2,945 (±$251) | +81.8% | Up after inflation |
| Households that rent | 50.1% (±5.2 points) | 43.9% (±5.7 points) | −6.2 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.8% (±1.3 points) | 4.1% (±3.0 points) | +3.3 percentage points | Measurable increase |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Kelso
In 2025, the Kelso Police Department reported 118 violent and 1,523 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across Cowlitz County, the departments that report recorded 171 violent and 1,430 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
Places near Kelso
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainier | 4.1 mi | $942 | $344,700 | 39.7% |
| Beacon Hill | 4.1 mi | $806 | $397,600 | 37.0% |
| Longview | 4.2 mi | $1,137 | $361,600 | 44.8% |
| Prescott | 4.8 mi | — | $316,700 | 20.0% |
| Lexington | 5.2 mi | $1,607 | $359,900 | 20.4% |
| Longview Heights | 5.4 mi | $1,346 | $456,700 | 25.0% |
| Kalama | 7.2 mi | — | $471,500 | 34.7% |
| Castle Rock | 11 mi | $1,222 | $348,600 | 33.3% |
Places in Washington most like Kelso
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montesano | $1,195 | $354,300 | $67,540 | 39.3% |
| Port Angeles | $1,170 | $370,200 | $62,606 | 44.5% |
| Yakima | $1,117 | $297,600 | $62,815 | 46.2% |
| Spokane | $1,215 | $363,500 | $70,064 | 41.2% |
| Ephrata | $1,106 | $252,000 | $69,551 | 34.8% |
| Grandview | $1,107 | $265,300 | $61,106 | 44.5% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across Washington.
HUD Fair Market Rent for Kelso, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $974 | $1,124 | $1,398 | $1,936 | $2,337 |
HUD income limits for Kelso, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,900 | $36,500 | $58,350 |
| 2 people | $25,000 | $41,700 | $66,700 |
| 3 people | $28,150 | $46,900 | $75,050 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $52,100 | $83,350 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $56,300 | $90,050 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $60,450 | $96,700 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $64,650 | $103,400 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $68,800 | $110,050 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Longview-Kelso, WA MSA, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $106,700.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
What you can do on Seayora in Kelso
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Kelso beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Kelso, save the ones you like and apply online.
Browse rentals · Create a renter account
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters near Kelso, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Questions about Kelso
What is the average rent in Kelso, WA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Kelso is $1,220 (±$69) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in Kelso?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in Kelso, WA is $1,035 (±$157) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Are renters in Kelso rent-burdened?
47.4% of renting households in Kelso pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in Kelso?
Kelso has an estimated 2,384 (±336) renting households, 43.9% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in Kelso?
The median household income in Kelso is $66,751 (±$5,488) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in Kelso, WA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $337,600 (±$21,416) for owner-occupied homes in Kelso (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is Kelso growing?
In Kelso, the number of residents went from 12,123 in 2015–2019 to 12,684 in 2020–2024 (+4.6%), a measurable increase.
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Kelso city, Washington
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Longview-Kelso, WA MSA
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Longview-Kelso, WA MSA
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Kelso Police Department (ORI WA0080100)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Kelso city, Washington (place:35065, in state:53).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .