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.

Ellensburg, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

20,874

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

75.8%15,813

Hispanic/Latino

12.8%2,674

Two or More

6.5%1,356

Asian

2.6%550

Black

2.1%431

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%48

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%2

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.2%541

High School Diploma

15.4%1,609

Some College (<1 yr)

9.2%963

Some College (1+ yr)

14.2%1,486

Associate's Degree

9%944

Bachelor's Degree

23.3%2,435

Master's Degree

13.2%1,374

Professional Degree

1.8%185

Doctorate

3.2%335

HS or Higher

94.5%

BA or Higher

41.4%

Graduate+

18.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$404,100

Median Renti

$1,340

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

32.9%2,948

Renter-Occupied

67.1%6,024

Total Units

9,508

Homeownership

32.9%

Vacancy Rate

5.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

4.6%136

$50K–$100K

0.1%2

$100K–$150K

1.1%33

$150K–$200K

2.7%80

$200K–$300K

18.1%533

$300K–$500K

59.6%1,756

$500K–$1M

13.8%408

Rent Distribution

Under $500

323

$500–$750

409

$750–$1,000

753

$1,000–$1,250

987

$1,250–$1,500

1,189

$1,500–$2,000

1,211

$2,000+

924

Year Built

2020 or later

1.6%156

2010–2019

14.5%1,380

2000–2009

19.5%1,857

1990–1999

16.5%1,570

1980–1989

7.5%712

1970–1979

12.1%1,150

1960–1969

9.2%877

1950–1959

5.3%503

1940–1949

3.3%317

1939 or earlier

10.4%986

Heating Fuel

Electricity

73.6%6,606

Utility Gas

22.5%2,021

Wood

1.2%110

Bottled/LP Gas

0.8%72

Solar

0.7%67

No Fuel

0.7%60

Other

0.3%29

Fuel Oil

0.1%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$55,438

Mean Household Incomei

$70,140

Per Capita Incomei

$31,113

Poverty Ratei

20.6%

Unemploymenti

8.9%

Labor Forcei

12,228

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

10.6%952

$10K–$15K

4%361

$15K–$20K

5.2%469

$20K–$25K

4.5%404

$25K–$30K

3.4%308

$30K–$35K

6.2%560

$35K–$40K

6.4%577

$40K–$45K

4.3%382

$45K–$50K

3.4%302

$50K–$60K

4.2%378

$60K–$75K

10.6%950

$75K–$100K

10.9%976

$100K–$125K

8.6%773

$125K–$150K

7.8%701

$150K–$200K

6.5%579

$200K+

3.3%300

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,2255.9%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

494

India

Canada

Philippines

Germany

China

Korea

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

10,771

Avg. Commutei

17.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

11,056

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,220(6.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.7%Insured

6.3%Uninsured