Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Kelso, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAPortland-Vancouver-Salem MSALongview-Kelso#2/5 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

12,684

Median Agei

39.9

Race & Ethnicityi

White

75.4%9,564

Hispanic/Latino

10.3%1,305

Two or More

9.4%1,193

Black

1.9%246

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

1.7%221

Asian

0.7%89

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.4%52

Other

0.1%14

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

10.4%944

High School Diploma

20%1,822

Some College (<1 yr)

9.1%830

Some College (1+ yr)

22.8%2,072

Associate's Degree

13.6%1,234

Bachelor's Degree

9.4%858

Master's Degree

2.3%210

Professional Degree

0.6%54

Doctorate

0.1%12

HS or Higher

88.2%

BA or Higher

12.5%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$337,600

Median Renti

$1,220

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

56.1%3,051

Renter-Occupied

43.9%2,384

Total Units

5,656

Homeownership

56.1%

Vacancy Rate

3.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

6.5%198

$50K–$100K

1.7%53

$100K–$150K

5.2%160

$150K–$200K

10.5%319

$200K–$300K

16.1%491

$300K–$500K

49.5%1,511

$500K–$1M

5.9%180

$1M+

4.6%139

Rent Distribution

Under $500

109

$500–$750

151

$750–$1,000

325

$1,000–$1,250

666

$1,250–$1,500

503

$1,500–$2,000

266

$2,000+

324

Year Built

2020 or later

0.2%13

2010–2019

5.2%294

2000–2009

10%567

1990–1999

6.1%344

1980–1989

8.4%477

1970–1979

11.5%649

1960–1969

12.6%713

1950–1959

13.4%759

1940–1949

9.3%524

1939 or earlier

23.3%1,316

Heating Fuel

Electricity

89.9%4,884

Utility Gas

5.5%298

No Fuel

1.9%105

Wood

1.9%102

Other

0.7%38

Solar

0.1%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$66,751

Mean Household Incomei

$80,176

Per Capita Incomei

$35,246

Poverty Ratei

11.9%

Unemploymenti

6.6%

Labor Forcei

6,643

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.8%208

$10K–$15K

2.5%136

$15K–$20K

3.4%184

$20K–$25K

3.8%204

$25K–$30K

3.3%181

$30K–$35K

4.4%240

$35K–$40K

3.8%204

$40K–$45K

3.2%176

$45K–$50K

2.6%143

$50K–$60K

8.2%444

$60K–$75K

17.4%946

$75K–$100K

19.4%1,057

$100K–$125K

10.7%583

$125K–$150K

3.3%178

$150K–$200K

6.2%338

$200K+

3.9%213

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

5894.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

205

Canada

118

Philippines

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

5,986

Avg. Commutei

20.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

6,204

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,147(11.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

90.4%Insured

9.6%Uninsured