Kelso

Population: 12,697
Median household income: $59,462
Median home value: $302,300

Kelso, a community in Cowlitz County, Washington, has 12,697 residents. Its median household income of $59,462 runs below the Cowlitz County figure of $72,932.

From 2019 to 2023, Kelso's population grew 4.7% from 12,123 to 12,697, while its median home value rose 104.1% from $148,100 to $302,300.

The largest age group is 25 to 34, 17.5% of residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 80.0% of the population.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 12,697
Median age: 38.4 yrs
Median household income: $59,462
Median home value: $302,300
Median gross rent: $1,131
Housing units: 5,516
Homeownership rate: 54.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 11.8%
Unemployment rate: 5.0%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

12,12312,697

Median household income

$39,044$59,462

Median home value

$148,100$302,300

Median gross rent

$833$1,131

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	12,123	$39,044	$148,100	$833
2020	12,237	$48,005	$185,500	$897
2021	12,566	$51,203	$201,800	$1,008
2022	12,661	$59,405	$260,000	$1,080
2023	12,697	$59,462	$302,300	$1,131

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.2%

5 to 1715.0%

18 to 248.5%

25 to 3417.5%

35 to 4412.2%

45 to 5411.3%

55 to 6415.7%

65 to 747.1%

75 and over7.5%

	Count	Share
Under 5	659	5.2%
5 to 17	1,908	15.0%
18 to 24	1,084	8.5%
25 to 34	2,218	17.5%
35 to 44	1,549	12.2%
45 to 54	1,436	11.3%
55 to 64	1,990	15.7%
65 to 74	896	7.1%
75 and over	957	7.5%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	10,157	80.0%
Black or African American	208	1.6%
American Indian & Alaska Native	16	0.1%
Asian	104	0.8%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	32	0.3%
Some other race	8	0.1%
Two or more races	812	6.4%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,360	10.7%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma11.3%

High school graduate30.5%

Some college or associate's46.3%

Bachelor's degree9.3%

Graduate or professional degree2.5%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,024	11.3%
High school graduate	2,763	30.5%
Some college or associate's	4,191	46.3%
Bachelor's degree	840	9.3%
Graduate or professional degree	228	2.5%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 21 min

Drove alone87.1%

Carpooled4.6%

Public transit0.2%

Walked1.2%

Bicycle0.6%

Worked from home6.1%

Other means0.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	4,653	87.1%
Carpooled	248	4.6%
Public transit	10	0.2%
Walked	64	1.2%
Bicycle	32	0.6%
Worked from home	325	6.1%
Other means	8	0.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	2,287	45.6%
15 to 29 min	1,505	30.0%
30 to 44 min	662	13.2%
45 to 59 min	116	2.3%
60+ min	445	8.9%

Households

Average household size: 2.39
Poverty rate: 19.5% (2,452 of 12,602)

	Count	Share
Family households	3,388	64.1%
Nonfamily households	1,901	35.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1961

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	5,289	95.9%
Vacant	227	4.1%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	2,899	54.8%
Renter-occupied	2,390	45.2%

1-unit, detached64.6%

1-unit, attached2.9%

2 to 4 units15.5%

5 to 19 units7.3%

20 or more units4.8%

Mobile home & other4.9%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	3,563	64.6%
1-unit, attached	159	2.9%
2 to 4 units	857	15.5%
5 to 19 units	404	7.3%
20 or more units	265	4.8%
Mobile home & other	268	4.9%

Geography

Place GEOID: 5335065
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 8.14 sq mi
Water area: 0.7 sq mi
Center point: 46.1168, -122.8865