Cost of Living in College Place, WA

Population 9,828 · Washington · Data vintage 2023

100
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

College Place sits on the smaller end of the Washington city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible.

Located 120 miles southwest of Spokane, College Place is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Housing prices track closely with Spokane's $326,000 median.

Cost Overview

Housing 110
Rent 85

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in College Place

The median home value in College Place is $335,000 — 10% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,118/month, 15% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $59,768/year is 20% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, below the national average of 4.8%. Washington charges no state income tax, a meaningful advantage for take-home pay. The climate averages highs of 64.0°F and lows of 44.7°F, with about 6.5" of annual snowfall. Overall, College Place has a cost of living index of 100 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is on par with the national average.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$335,000
10% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$369,371
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,118/mo
15% below avg
Zillow Rent
$1,707/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.0x
Favors renting
Property Tax Rate
1.0%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$963
1 BR
$1,018
2 BR
$1,317
3 BR
$1,845
4 BR
$2,071
Owner-occupied 64.8%
Renter-occupied 35.2%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,118
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,732/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
15.0 min
44% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
10.5%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
65.4%
Carpooled
10.3%
Public transit
1.4%
Walked
11.3%
Work from home
10.5%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) None
Total Sales Tax 9.2%
State rate 6.5%
Avg local rate 2.7%
Property Tax 1.0%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$59,768
20% below avg
Per Capita Income
$31,847
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
5% below avg
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Labor Force Participation
61.8%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 21.2%
Graduate degree 14.5%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 29.9
Male median age 30.9
Female median age 29.3

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High
64.0°F
Avg Low
44.7°F
Annual Precip
18.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"
30° 48° 65° 83° 100° JFMAMJJASOND High Low Precip
Month JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F 424756637179908979634941
Low °F 313338434955626254443630
Precip" 2.101.592.111.982.071.240.470.400.641.662.252.23
Snow" 1.02.20.20.00.00.00.00.00.00.10.32.7

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 28 — Good
82.2%
Good air days/yr
305
Max AQI recorded
263
PM2.5 days
0
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

82%
4-Year Graduation Rate
17.9:1
Student-teacher ratio
4
Public schools
1,627
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in College Place, WA?

College Place has a cost index of 100 (100 = national average). It is near the national average.

What is average rent in College Place, WA?

The median gross rent in College Place is $1,118 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in College Place?

The median home value in College Place is $335,000 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in College Place?

The median household income in College Place is $59,768 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in College Place, WA?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in College Place is 9.2%. Washington has no state income tax.

Is College Place, WA affordable?

College Place is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 100 (100 = US average).

What is the weather like in College Place?

College Place has average high temperatures of 64.0°F and average lows of 44.7°F. Annual precipitation is 18.7". Average annual snowfall is 6.5". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

College Place at a Glance

Population
9,828
Median Income
$59,768
Home Value
$335,000
Median Rent
$1,118/mo
Unemployment
4.6%
Avg High Temp
64.0°F
Sales Tax
9.2%
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🗺️ County data for Washington

Explore county-level cost of living data

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