Cost of Living in Selah, WA

Population 8,301 · Washington · Data vintage 2023

117
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Selah 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 95 miles southeast of Kent, Selah is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Median home values run roughly 32% lower than Kent's $538,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 120
Rent 111

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

About the Cost of Living in Selah

The median home value in Selah is $366,100 — 20% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,465/month, 11% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $74,757/year is equal to 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 64.3°F and lows of 37.3°F, with about 20.3" of annual snowfall. Overall, Selah has a cost of living index of 117 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 17% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$366,100
20% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$431,456
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,465/mo
11% above avg
Zillow Rent
$1,651/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8x
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 56.6%
Renter-occupied 43.4%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,465
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $2,079/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
17.5 min
35% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
5.1%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
89.0%
Carpooled
3.7%
Walked
1.2%
Work from home
5.1%

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
$74,757
0% below avg
Per Capita Income
$37,741
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
5% below avg
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Labor Force Participation
66.9%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 13.9%
Graduate degree 9.8%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 34.2
Male median age 34.9
Female median age 33.7

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High
64.3°F
Avg Low
37.3°F
Annual Precip
8"
Annual Snowfall
20.3"
20° 38° 55° 73° 90° JFMAMJJASOND High Low Precip
Month JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F 404757657481908979644938
Low °F 242630354450555345352723
Precip" 1.190.810.640.550.740.500.200.210.230.640.861.44
Snow" 6.22.70.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.13.07.7

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 46 — Good
55.6%
Good air days/yr
233
Max AQI recorded
363
PM2.5 days
0
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

82%
4-Year Graduation Rate
18.4:1
Student-teacher ratio
10
Public schools
3,910
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Selah, WA?

Selah has a cost index of 117 (100 = national average). It is 17% above the national average.

What is average rent in Selah, WA?

The median gross rent in Selah is $1,465 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Selah?

The median home value in Selah is $366,100 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Selah?

The median household income in Selah is $74,757 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Selah, WA?

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

Is Selah, WA affordable?

Selah is above average in cost of living, with an index of 117 — about 17% higher than the national average.

What is the weather like in Selah?

Selah has average high temperatures of 64.3°F and average lows of 37.3°F. Annual precipitation is 8". Average annual snowfall is 20.3". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Selah at a Glance

Population
8,301
Median Income
$74,757
Home Value
$366,100
Median Rent
$1,465/mo
Unemployment
4.6%
Avg High Temp
64.3°F
Sales Tax
9.2%
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